Recipe browsing

Before this awesome challenge came along, I was recipe-challenged. I tried new recipes once a month, maybe. I would look through cook books and cooking magazines more or less afraid. Either afraid of the strange ingredients, afraid the recipe was too complicated or afraid no one else in my family would eat it, let alone like it. But, this same person, was (and still is) a Top Chef devotee and likes to watch the Food network to relax. A bit of a paradox, I know.

Well, that old me is pretty much gone. And the salad I made for lunch today proves it. I've been hearing about this Jamie Oliver guy and his new show Food Revolution. Looked up some of his recipes on line and made this gorgeous Posh Chopped Salad: http://abc.go.com/shows/jamie-olivers-food-revolution/recipes/ThemeGallery/406309.

I could not have made this salad a month and a half ago. "Too many wierd ingredients" I would have thought. The formerly weird ingredients include: fennel and radishes. Other ingredients I don't use regularly: fresh dill, smoked salmon, and belgian endive. And I'll admit that while I was chopping up veggies, I was tempted to leave out some of the weird ones, but I'm so glad I didn't. It was so delicious that I ate two huge platefuls. That's right, I totally piged-out on salad, people, all 532 calories. The lemon/oil dressing with loads of freshly ground pepper and kosher salt all brought this yummy lunch together. My taste buds were doing a happy dance.