Grand Central Oyster Bar Shrimp Salad

Bright, crisp, and easily assembled, Grand Central Oyster Bar Shrimp Salad is a perfect summery meal. You can make the dressing ahead of time, bring the ingredients to a party, and then combine it on the spot. It’s great for a hot day, because there’s very little cooking and it comes together in under 15 minutes. It’s similar to Crab Louis sauce, but a bit tangier, and without any cream.

This recipe makes me a bit nostalgic. When he was young, my dad was a bit of a creature of food habit. He was working in midtown New York City, and would go and get this salad from the Grand Central Oyster Bar (go check it out, it’s still there, and make sure to look up at the Guastavino ceiling tiles). Dad didn’t cook much, but he really liked this salad, and the chef made the dressing right at the counter. So, dad watched carefully, until he could replicate it at home.

I had the recipe, but without any measurements, so it took a bit of trial and error to get it right, and cut it down for one serving. But, it was worth it. And, since frozen shrimp were on sale at my local market recently, I pounced!

Substitutions and Variations for Grand Central Oyster Bar Shrimp Salad

  • Skip the shrimp and pour the dressing over a chef salad
  • Use the dressing on hard boiled eggs
  • Swap out the spinach for romaine lettuce
  • Add tomatoes

More 15 Minute Summer Salad Recipes

simple panzanella for onePanzanella Salad

Transform day-old bread into this easy summer salad. Add tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, or zucchini. Or, bump it up to a heartier meal with hard boiled eggs or canned tuna.

 

Mediterranean Cucumber Feta Tomato SaladMediterranean Cucumber Feta Tomato Salad

Versatile and easy, depending on your choices, this requires no cooking at all. Perfect for a sticky, summer day.

 

Canned Salmon Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

No cooking and no stove. Just open a can, pick your favorite veggies out of your fridge, and make an easy dressing. Done in minutes.

 

apple almond chicken saladApple Almond Chicken Salad

Start with leftover chicken, or a rotisserie bird from the store. Full of flavor and crunch from crisp apples, almonds, and sour cream.

Flourless Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie

Chocolate? Hazelnuts? No flour? Yes please! This flourless chocolate hazelnut brownie recipe is based on one from Jacques Pepin’s  Fast Food My Way cookbook.  It’s gluten-free, since there’s no flour (that also makes it good for Passover next year!) and is rich, delicious, and easy to make.  The only non-standard pantry ingredient is the hazelnuts. But I happened to have some (from a big jar of mixed nuts), so no worries there. And you don’t have to skin them either. Think of it as a Nutella brownie you made yourself. And no odd ingredients. It probably should be called heavenly chocolate brownie. You end up with something that’s part cake, part brownie, and exceptionally intense chocolate flavor.

Note, Jacques prepared this in a tart pan, lined with foil, and then buttered. I don’t have a tart pan, so I used a baking dish. Since I also dislike using foil, I buttered and floured the baking dish, and then cut the brownies in squares instead of wedges. Came out perfectly.

I strongly recommend you use a ziploc or similar sealable bag to smash the nuts. And zip it closed. Otherwise, they go flying. Ask me how I know.

He also added a whipped cream Grand Marnier garnish (which is likely also delicious, but I had none of those ingredients handy). So I settled for some vanilla ice cream instead. I don’t think I suffered much.

Flourless Chocolate Hazelnut Brownie Substitutions and Variations

  • don’t have hazelnuts? use walnuts or pecans instead (plus they are easier to chop up)
  • top with whipped cream
  • fold Grand Marnier and orange zest into your whipped cream (1/2 tsp each)
  • go all out and drizzle some chocolate syrup over the ice cream

More Chocolate Dessert Recipes

easy chocolate mousseEasy Chocolate Mousse

So easy, a kid can do it (and I did). You don’t need a double boiler, or to separate eggs, or anything else complicated. Just heat some water (that’s the hardest part) and mix everything together.

Small Batch Brownies with Cocoa Powdersmall batch brownies cocoa powder

Soft, chewy brownies that only require one bowl and one pan. No fancy ingredients required here either. You also don’t have to stand over the stove melting chocolate (and cleaning extra pots).

Greek Yogurt Chocolate Cakegreek yogurt chocolate cake

I should probably call this triple chocolate cake. It has cocoa, chocolate, and then a chocolate ganache icing on top. But the yogurt totally makes it healthy. Right?

 

Single Serving Double Dark Chocolate Pudding Recipesingle serving double dark chocolate pudding recipe

This is really two recipes in one. Cook on lower heat and you get European hot chocolate, leave it on the stove a bit more, and it’s pudding! Either way, it’s delicious.

 

Mediterranean Cucumber Feta Tomato Salad

Summer is coming (really, it is) and that means warmer weather, and well, even I don’t want to cook much. So, I start wandering around my local markets, looking for ideas I can recreate at home (and for less). Because summer in the city is hot and sticky. Mediterranean cucumber feta tomato salad to the rescue.  It’s crisp, refreshing, and super-easy to make.  You can prepare it several ways, one of which involves absolutely no cooking at all, so it’s ready in mere minutes.

The others can be done with leftovers, or minimal time at the stove. Which is what we all want in summer. Right?

I’ve given instructions in the recipe for the “basic” no cook version, marking the chicken as optional, and then added the variations below. Serve with a chunk of crusty bread (here’s a no-knead recipe for that) and a tall glass of lemonade or iced tea.

Substitutions and Variations for Mediterranean Cucumber Feta Tomato Salad

  • Add two hard boiled eggs, sliced
  • Mix in some cooked corkscrew pasta (about 2 oz pre-cooked)
  • Add shredded chicken (either leftover from a store-bought rotisserie chicken, or an extra baked chicken thigh, see note on recipe for how to make the chicken if you do it at home)

More Feta and Cucumber Salad Recipes

Blueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnutsblueberry feta spinach salad

Fresh, crisp, refreshing, and easy to put together. Perfect for a summer day, and no cooking needed.

 

Lemony Cucumber Salad Recipe with Dilllemony cucumber salad recipe

An easy side dish that comes together quickly. Great with a simple roast chicken (or one pre-cooked from the store).

 

israeli chopped salad

Chopped Israeli Salad for One Person

Wonderful as a side dish, or add some eggplant and pita and make it a sandwich.  Now, it’s a full meal.

 

strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing and feta cheeseStrawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese

A variation on the blueberry salad above, but this time with balsamic vinegar and almonds for crunch. The sweet strawberries complement the salty feta beautifully.

Easy KitchenAid Cinnamon Bread

I have developed a craving for all things cinnamon lately. It started with a cinnamon roll recipe. Which was delicious, but complicated. And it took hours and hours to make. Then I found another, easier one. Better, but still a bit fiddly. I looked online for KitchenAid cinnamon roll recipes. They have one for cinnamon roll bread, but it’s essentially making one giant roll, instead of individual servings. And calls for extra attachments, and a glaze, and I didn’t want all of that. Finally, I thought to go old school. So, I checked my ancient KitchenAid recipe book. Success! An easy recipe for Kitchenaid for cinnamon bread!

No special tools required. All you need is the mixer itself, the dough hook, and a rolling pin. Easy.

And, even better, it’s rich, delicious, and makes your home smell wonderful. I confess I half expected my neighbors to bang on my door pleading for slices. But it’s all mine!

Tools for Making Easy KitchenAid Cinnamon Bread

Norpro loaf pan

Norpro Stainless Steel Bread Pan

I looooove this pan. I have convinced numerous friends to buy it. I don’t know how Norpro did it, but they created a stainless steel pan, no coating, that doesn’t stick, nick, or burn. I have had it for too many years to count and it still looks brand new.

 

NSAF Instant Yeast

Saf Instant Yeast, 1 Pound Pouch

The regular little packets in the store cost a fortune. And you have to keep trotting back to the store for more. This is a big bag that keeps in the freezer for months. No running out. And it works faster too.

JK Adams French rolling pin

J.K. Adams FRP-1 Maple French Rolling Pin

This is lightweight, easy to roll, and easy to clean too. I find it easier to use than the kind with the handles, as well. And it’s perfect when rolling out something (like cinnamon bread) into a large rectangle.

More KitchenAid Bread Recipes

kitcheanaid potato bread recipeKitchenaid Potato Bread Recipe

Potatoes may seem like an odd addition to bread. But there’s a reason. The potatoes ensure that the end result is moist and tender. Like the stuff in a package, except that when you make it yourself you know exactly what’s in it (no ingredientss you can’t recognize).

kitchenaid white bread recipeOne Loaf Kitchenaid Sandwich White Bread

Ideal for a lunchtime sandwich, and strong enough to hold up to a big stack of fillings. Yet, it’s still light and soft.

 

single loaf challah recipeSingle Loaf Challah Recipe for Kitchenaid Stand Mixer

A single, golden, round loaf of challah. Challah is essentially a non-dairy brioche. So no milk or butter (but you can add that later).

 

kitchenaid honey oat bread recipeKitchenaid Honey Oat Bread Recipe

This recipe has a touch of honey for sweetness, and oats for extra body. Those hard-working oats also make it more nutritious.

 

Easy No Knead Crusty Bread

There are a lot of no knead crusty bread recipes out there. But, most of them require an overnight rise. No, I want my bread NOW! Others call for specialized tools, such as a bread proofing bowl or a Dutch oven.  I have neither of those things.  While, I don’t mind kneading (after all, I have a Kitchenaid), sometimes I want something crusty, rather than soft.

I got this recipe from life as a strawberry. After trying multiple no knead recipes, from The New York Times, from a couple of friends, and a few other sites, this was the only one that gave me consistently good results. And, unlike the other recipes I found, this one is pretty straightforward, no extra long rise or fancy tools. You mix the dough, let it rise, shape it, rise again, and bake.

I did later discover that my oven temperature was off by 25 degrees, so that may have been part of the problem. Turns out that is fixable and you can recalibrate your oven. Check yours!

I haven’t changed much, other than using instant yeast, in the recipe. But I did make a few tweaks in the instructions. For one thing, I didn’t want to buy a Dutch oven or a proofing bowl. And secondly, I found that covering dough with a towel, especially with a sticky dough, left me with a gooey, sticky towel that had to be washed.

How to Recalibrate Your Oven

white oven knobsWe’ve all likely had an oven that turned out to be too hot. Or too cold. But, until recently, I had no idea that you could recalibrate your oven settings that so it was just right.

I found this out purely by accident. My oven thermometer died so I went to get a new one. I knew that you could get different readings depending on where the thermometer was placed. So I went to look to find out the best spot in the oven to get the most accurate reading. Turns out that my oven was running 25 degrees too cool. OK, good to know.

But then, I also learned that if your oven wasn’t at the right setting, you could recalibrate it! I checked the oven manual and sure enough it had instructions. On my oven, it turned out that the oven knob had screws on the back. I removed it, loosened the screws slightly, and then was able to adjust them to get a higher temperature. There was also an option to make it cooler if the oven was too hot.

And now, the oven temperature is what it should be!

Obviously, there are a million different ovens out there, and the method may be different on yours. However, once you know it’s possible to fix (even my other cooking fiend friends didn’t know this!) you can solve the issue. Just check your oven manual and see how to do it.

More Kitchen Hacks and Tips

Kitchekitchen hack binder clip bagsn Hack: Binder Clips

Binder clips are not just for the office. They also make great sealers for chips, bags that won’t seal, and packages of frozen veggies.

Kitchen Orgakitchen hack oxo peelernization Hack: Oxo Peeler

My utensil holder is part bottomless pit. Since both my peeler and the holder are black was hard to find the tool when I needed it. So, I painted it. Problem solved.

 

open tight jarHow to Easily Open a Tight Jar

You may think you need to start lifting weights or buy an expensive gadget to open tight jars. Nope. The solution is easy, cheap, and you probably already have one.

separate a head of garlicEasily Break Apart a Head of Garlic

Pulling and tugging doesn’t work. But if you stab it with a knife (get out your aggression!) you can get the job done easily.

Sheet Pan Sausage Potato and Eggplant

I’m calling this sheet pan sausage, potato, and eggplant, largely because I don’t know what else to call it. I made it up as I went along!

Sheet pan meals are certainly popular. But they are definitely not my usual thing. I don’t know why. However, I was tired, and I had some sausage to use up. And, since I was tired, I didn’t feel like making a batch of spaghetti sauce. Or defrosting pizza dough.  Or even just sausage and peppers (especially since I had no peppers handy).

I wanted something simple, that didn’t require a lot of fussing. I did have eggplant and potatoes, and I figured there must be a dinner in there somewhere.  Off to the internet. I found a sheet pan sausage and potato recipe, but it lacked oomph. And the instructions were complicated. Not interested in complicated.

It was a good starting point though. So, on the fly, I invented sheet pan sausage potato and eggplant. And, as a bonus, my version is easy. All you have to do is a bit of chopping, and set your timer.

The result is a complete meal. And since it’s all done in a single pan, there’s minimal cleanup afterwards. Just the thing for a weekday. Chop everything, get it in the oven, and sit down and relax while it bakes.

Sheet Pan Sausage, Potato, and Eggplant Substitutions and Variations

  • Use peas or carrots instead of broccoli
  • Toss in some mushrooms, cut up
  • Use butternut squash, cut up into cubes, instead of potatoes
  • Try it with hot sausage or chicken sausage

More Sausage and Potato Recipes

Polish sausage with cabbage and potatoesOne Pot Polish Sausage and Cabbage with Potatoes

A simple meal that packs a lot of flavor. The potatoes are buttery, the cabbage sweetens and mellows as it cooks, and the sausage adds richness.

 

Brazilian chicken paprika stewBrazilian Chicken Paprika Stew

This is South American paprikash. No cream. Instead, there’s sausage, and beans, and a squeeze of lime. It’s bright and fresh, and delicious.

 

creole cabbage and sausageQuick Creole Cabbage and Sausage

Pantry-friendly and cooks in a few minutes too. The only really perishable thing is the sausage. The rest will keep. Great for a weeknight.

 

lentil bean sausage soupLentil Bean Sausage Soup

Great for rainy days, this soup is essentially an entire meal. It’s hearty too, with lentils, beans, potatoes and carrots.

Small Batch Tomato Dill Soup

Cold weather calls for soup! And since it’s chilly and blustery, a recipe for a small batch of tomato dill soup is just the thing. It’s rich, easy to make, and is ready in about an hour.

I’ve adapted this from The Silver Palate Cookbook (one of my favorites). However, I did make a few changes. The original recipe was for 8 to 10 portions (way too much). It also called for blending the soup in a food processor or food mill. First, I have neither. Second, we now have stick blenders! But then I realized I had an even better idea. Use crushed tomatoes instead of whole canned ones. I mean, why buy whole tomatoes if you are just going to crush them anyway? Right? Right.

The other thing about this small batch tomato dill soup: it requires very little time or fussing. Hardly any chopping required, and not a lot of ingredients either. But, there’s still lots of rich tomato and dill flavor, topped with a dollop of sour cream and more dill.

Note that the original recipe also called for fresh dill (as a must). But fresh dill is not all that fresh in the north this time of year. The good news, you can freeze it (which is what I had done). All you have to do is wash the dill, pat it dry, roll it in a paper towel, and then put it in a freezer proof storage bag or jar (I use empty Talenti gelato jars). Then you have dill ready to use any time you want.

More Soup Recipes

pasta e fagioli soupPasta e Fagioli Soup (Small Batch)

Lots of veggies, tomatoes, and beans, simmered slowly for a rich and satisfying soup. It’s practically a meal all by itself.

 

moroccan chicken soupMoroccan Chicken and Lentil Soup

Yes, this is a Jewish soup (no matzo balls in sight).  It does have chicken, but it’s flavored with sweet tomatoes, spicy/warm ginger, and turmeric.

 

mulligatawny soupMulligatawny Soup Recipe

An early example of food fusion. The British brought the meat and the Tamils added the spicy kick.

 

Greek Chicken Stew

Sometimes, even I get tired of cooking. And I definitely get tired of washing up. But, this lemony Greek chicken stew will perk up even the weariest cook. The flavors are bright, fresh, and bring a little sunshine into dark winter days. I hadn’t heard of Greek chicken stew before seeing it in the NY Times, but I’ve been putting it into regular rotation lately. It’s great comfort food, and ideal for dreary weather.

My Greek chicken stew is a bit different from the original recipe (aside from being smaller). They used ground chicken. I never have that. Also, I think that using bone-in chicken makes the stew more flavorful, even if it does take a bit longer to cook. Do use Yukon gold potatoes though. The texture is better and the flavor is more buttery (no actual butter required).

Also, they suggested feta cheese and pita as toppings. I like the feta, but every packaged pita commercially available here is hard and unappealing. And I did not feel like making my own! So a bit more spinach instead.

Make a batch, and then have it for lunch or dinner, with some crusty bread on the side (instead of the pita).

And, as a bonus, it’s all cooked in one pot! Yes! Less cleanup is always a good thing!

More One Pot Chicken Recipes

Brazilian chicken paprika stewBrazilian Chicken Paprika Stew

You’ve heard of chicken paprikash? This version went to South America and got a bit of a kick. No more cream. Instead, there’s chicken, lime, and beans.

 

shoemakers chickenShoemaker’s Chicken for One

This not really Italian classic is zipped up with a tangy sauce. And you only need a single pot.

 

honey sticky garlic chickenHoney Sticky Garlic Chicken

Want Chinese food? Don’t feel like going out? Or waiting to get it? This chicken dish takes only about 30 minutes to make. And if you are feeling stuffy, it will fix that!

 

arroz con pollo for oneArroz Con Pollo for One

Fill your home with aromatic chorizo, beans, garlic, and jalapeño pepper. Not to mention dinner in an hour.

 

Canned Salmon Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

It’s so hot that even I can’t bear the thought of turning on the stove. But I still need to eat. What to do? Then I had an idea. Canned salmon salad with lime vinaigrette. No cooking. No stove. All you have to do is open a can, slice up some veggies, and make a quick dressing. It’s all ready in under 10 minutes.

I adapted the salad from a recipe for chopped salmon salad. It looked good, but it called for avocado and red onion. Since I didn’t have those things, and I had no intention of going outside, I improvised. I also didn’t want to chop.

Because I had fresh limes, but not lemons, I thought I’d add my own spin by using a lime vinaigrette instead of lemon.  Also, I wanted more sweetness than a lemony dressing would give.

The dressing is part ad hoc and part something else I found online. Lime for a citrusy kick, a bit of Dijon mustard for bite, and a dash of sugar to boost the sweetness.

If you don’t have the exact ingredients on hand, feel free to substitute. A few suggestions below.

Canned Salmon Salad with Lime Vinaigrette Substitutions and Variations

  • Add 1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
  • Slice half an avocado and add to the salad
  • Include 1/4 small red onion, sliced
  • Use romaine lettuce instead of iceberg (I wanted extra crisp)
  • Make the dressing with fresh lemon juice instead of lime

More Entree Salad Recipes

 

Smoked Salmon Artichoke Saladsmoked salmon artichoke salad

This super-easy smoked salmon artichoke salad requires absolutely no cooking. It’s both colorful and delicious with the zing of citrus, smoky, salty salmon and zesty marinated artichokes.  And it’s ready in 10 minutes.

chili citrus avocado chicken saladChili Citrus Avocado Chicken Salad

Transform leftover chicken (or get one pre-cooked) into an entirely different meal. This salad packs a citrusy punch with lots of sweet and tangy flavor.

 

blueberry feta spinach saladBlueberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese and Walnuts

Crispy, refreshing, and easy. This salad is an entire meal by itself. It’s got sweet blueberries, earthy mushrooms, and crunchy walnuts.

 

strawberry spinach salad with balsamic dressing and feta cheeseStrawberry Spinach Salad with Balsamic Dressing and Feta Cheese

Colorful, tasty, and no cooking required.  The strawberries are complemented nicely by the tangy, salty cheese and the hearty vinegar.