Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Casear Salad - Classic & Just a Bite + Sponsor Spotlight

Happy Tuesday, everyone - one day closer to that holiday weekend.  Today I'm sharing a favorite in this house.  A simple and regular Caesar salad is probably both mine and Derek's favorite salad - I mean, it's classic!

Caesar Salad - Just a Bite:
I can't even remember where I originally saw the idea to make these but anything bite size is a favorite of mine.  This will be a repeat appetizer for us I'm sure as the weather gets warmer and a staple at summer BBQ's.


Ingredients:
romaine lettuce
croutons
cooked chicken - cubes
parmesan cheese - cubes
caesar dressing
toothpicks

Directions:
Mix the caesar dressing in with the lettuce in a mixing bowl.  Put a lettuce wedge, chicken cube, parmesan cheese cube through a toothpick and then gently push it into the crouton.  You might have to push the first three ingredients down the toothpick a little to get them to stand right on the crouton (pushing the toothpick only halfway into it is the best way to not have it crack).

*You could also just drizzle the dressing over each bite once finished.

Classic Caesar Salad:
Derek and I usually cheat and just get the lettuce, croutons, fresh parmesan and sometimes grilled chicken and mix it all together with store bought dressing.  However, my step-dad makes the most amazing homemade salad (originally from Rachel Ray, I believe) so if we're having dinner at my parent's house or having them over, we will frequently request that they bring/make this.

Sorry for the terrible photo, it was hard digging through to find one! 

Ingredients:
2 garlic cloves
4 anchovy fillets
1 hard-boiled egg yolk
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/3 teaspoon each salt and pepper

2 head romaine lettuce, torn
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
croutons

Directions:
Chop up the garlic clovers and anchovy fillets.  Add in the hard-boiled egg yolk, 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon dry mustard and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.  Mix until all blended smoothly.  Toss the lettuce in a large serving bowl with the dressing and parmesan cheese.

Sponsor Spotlight:
Lastly, I'd like to introduce you to a new sponsor today, Kelsey from The Peacock Roost.  Kelsey is a newlywed who blogs about many aspects of life including starting a business! She's shared some great recipes including crockpot beefy cheesy tortellini (photo below).  I'll let Kelsey share a little bit more about herself.  Be sure to check out her great giveaway at the bottom of the post.

Hi, I'm Kelsey, lifestyle blogger at The Peacock Roost!  I'm 27 and live in Kentucky with my husband!  I work at a financial advising firm and also run The Green Peacock, an organic lawn care company, with my husband and have my own consulting business on the side as well.  I love spending time with my husband & family, church, reading, Pure Barre, Netlix binges, cooking, shopping, decorating, organization and anything southern!  I blog because I love having a diary of our lives and I absolutely love the blogging community and connecting with new people!  My lifestyle blog, The Peacock Roost, focuses on our married life, recipes, favorite finds, organization, fitness & more. Hope you'll come visit and follow along!


A few fun facts:

Favorite food:  Pasta.  Give me all the pasta!
Place wanting to travel: I would really love to visit all of Europe, Ireland and Scotland, and travel back to Africa!
Favorite cocktail: I love a good glass of Moscato, champagne or a mimosa!  I'm a sweet wine and champagne girl :)
Favorite TV shows: Blue Bloods, When Calls the Heart, Scandal, Grey's Anatomy, RHOBH, RHONJ, all the Chicago shows (PD/Fire/Med) and I'm a total sucker for the CW shows (Reign, The Vampire Diaries and The Originals)!
Favorite Store: Nordstrom or Target!
Favorite Sports team: College - Louisville Cardinals, Pro - Dallas Cowboys!
Favorite Holiday: ​Christmas!  I already have several gifts and new decor purchased for this year and have plans to double our decorating!  I want to enjoy 2016 but I'm really excited for this Christmas and all the new and fun things I have planned :)


I hope you all enjoyed getting to know a little bit more about Kelsey, make sure to pop by her blog and say hello.  Also, don't miss her fabulous giveaway below - a Lilly Pulitzer wine glass set (a girl after my own heart!) The giveaway will run through Friday so don't miss out! 



* if you're interested in being a future sponsor of Christina Lea Loves, click here for more information.

32 comments:

  1. Love the idea of little salad bites! I would have never thought to make my own dressing...sounds delicious!

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  2. That's the best idea! Simple and yummy. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Salad bites....yum! That would be so easy to do with a lighter salad and vinaigrette for summer :)
    Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts

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  4. What a darling idea doing the Caesar Salad as bites! Love it!

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  5. That is the perfect appetizer! Healthier, yummy and everything you could want all in one bite! Love that idea! And those wine glasses... LOVE! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes

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  6. This appetizer looks delicious! Definitely a super cute take on the salad!! Kelsey is so cute too and I enjoy reading her blog. Those wine glasses are amazing.. and you need them. Just saying!! Haha.

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  7. love the idea of the salad bites!! looks so yummy!!

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  8. Such a cute recipe idea, salad bites are such a great lil addition to a menu.

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  9. Those salad bites!! What a neat idea I had never actually thought of doing something like that!

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  10. i LOVE caesar salad. i wish it was healthier haha. but alas. but a bite sounds perfect! how cute is that??

    xoxo cheshire kat

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  11. That app... amazing! Pinning as I type!

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  12. Those salad bites are enough to make me mad! I can replace any meal with a HUGE salad and be perfectly content. I'll have to try the recipe!!

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  13. This looks delicious! I'd probably eat them all though..I love caesar.

    liz @ j for joiner

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  14. Those salad bites look so good and so perfect for a summer appetizer! Might have to keep that idea on hand for Friday night grill nights this summer :)

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  15. What a brilliant idea!! Sometimes when I entertain I only want to have finger foods and struggle with adding something "green" and healthy to the mix. I will definitely be using this idea!

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  16. This is so smart! I love the idea of serving this classic dish in these adorable bites...definitely a great appetizer for a spring party!

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  17. These look sooooo good and very yummy!!! For sure going to make these!

    Ashley
    acutelifestyle.blogspot.com

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  18. Great idea! We're huge Cesar salad fans, too! Once you make homemade dressing it's hard to go back to bottled.

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  19. Love anything Lilly as you know BUT really need some new wine glasses and it would be a huge bonus if they had a cheerful Lilly print :)

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  20. Salad bites sound like the perfect party food!

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  21. Caesar salad is one of my favorites to order when we go to restaurants. I find some of the dressings in the grocery store are hit or miss. Which one did you use?

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  22. Oh I love Caesar salad!! I will definitely give these a try!
    Kelsey
    www.thepeacockroost.com

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  23. Those salad bites are adorable and sound delicious!! Way easier way to eat salad for an app

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  24. Oh my word, caesar salad is one of my favorite things ever! What a great idea to turn it into an app!

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  25. I love Kelsey's blog, and what a great giveaway! Those bites are the cutest idea - those will make an appearance at a future party, for sure!

    Meg, Borrowed Heaven

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  26. Oh my goodness, give me all the Caesar salad! The bite-sized appetizer is a genius idea, definitely saving that one for summer barbecues. And, nice to meet you Kelsey!

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  27. I LOVE caesar salad! These bites sound like such a great app idea!

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  28. Such a great idea to make salad bits! I'll have to try these soon! Xo, Stephanie

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  29. What a great idea for appetizers! Caesar salad is one of my favorite things to eat!

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  30. This is such a great idea. I love your recipe posts! And homemade Caesar is a favorite of mine.

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