Take a break from gut-busting holiday decadence with easy veggie dishes
My spinning instructor says we're squarely in the eating season; she hounds us to pedal faster. She's right, of course. From Thanksgiving through New Year's, temptations abound - from the sharing tables at the office to dinners with visiting friends and relatives. And let's not talk about my penchant for eating all the richest items at holiday dinners first.
How to counteract the gravy, buttered rolls, rich stuffings, scalloped potatoes, creamed spinach and candied yams? I arm myself with an arsenal of lighter, delicious and beautiful vegetable preparations that shake up the buffet.
Instead of a typical green salad, I offer a holiday Caesar made with stunning ruby red radicchio and a homemade dressing spiked with lemongrass and fresh thyme. This gorgeous salad, inspired by Cathy Whims' version at Nostrana in Portland, Ore., proves worthy of any party. The dressing and other components of the salad can be made several days in advance.
To help eliminate any excuse for not eating salad, I trim,
