Main Dish Salads; Chicken Orzo

So, we’ve been trying our best to keep the cooking to a minimum now that the full-on heat of summer is upon us. Believe me, it’s not always the easiest task. Taking a step in the right direction, we’ve been experimenting with what we are calling “Main Dish Salads”; i.e healthy, filling, easy to prepare, and DELISH… did we mention easy to prepare too?!  We made this Chicken Orzo Salad With Goat Cheese, and it was a huge success, leaving our guests asking for seconds, and our dishes to a minimum.

Simple Vinaigrette

Many healthy diets (or shall we say ALL healthy diets should) include a salad each day, and they all have one thing in common; a vinaigrette! Why buy an expensive grocery store concoction when you can make your own healthy version at home? Using your own collection of oils and gourmet vinegars, lemon juice, and fresh herbs allows you to customize your dressing, without the chemicals and sugars that store-bought dressings are sure to contain. This simple vinaigrette can be made in mere minutes with ingredients that you probably already have on hand.