Spinach, Chicken & Pomegranate Salad
At the height of the women’s lib movement when most moms were joining the job force, my mother chose to stay at home. She channeled her Ivy League education into household management.
When it came to meals, the fare was simple and nutritious. Hot oatmeal or Wheatena for breakfast. A PBJ on homemade wheat bread with a piece of fruit for lunch. A revolving menu of well-balanced meals for dinner: Crusty macaroni and cheese with broccoli, roast chicken, brown rice and winter squash; Boston Baked Beans, cottage cheese and cornbread, among others. When the holidays rolled around there were weeks of preparation, from making fresh mincemeat for the pies to hand-grinding cranberry orange relish to accompany the turkey.
Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/learntospell/ Creative Commons 2.0
8 oz. cleaned baby spinach
4 oz. cooked, shredded whole roasted skinless chicken
2 ea. shallots, whole roasted and then cooled and sliced
2 oz. golden raisins
2 oz. pomegranate seeds
Mix ingredients. Top with a balsamic vinaigrette or dressing of choice.
Create lasting holiday memories for your children by preparing a favorite holiday dish together. If you need some inspiration, here’s a family-friendly recipe from Chef Pete Ghione of Ghione’s Go Fresh Organic Restaurant in Athem. This festive-looking salad contains ingredients that kids might not typically eat, but when they’re involved in the preparation process they’re much more motivated to try new foods. “Healthy food is just as fun and delicious as conventional foods if prepared with the same care and intensity,” shares Chef Ghione.
Valery Behr, The Lunch Lady™ provides online ordering and delivery options for healthy, affordable cafeteria-style, box and bag lunches to private and public school campuses in Clark County, Nevada. Behr and her “Lunch Ladies” strive to make school lunches fun, nutritious, educational and affordable. www.lunchladylasvegas.com .