mediterranean diet: healthy menu meal plan #56
one bowl bursting with wintertime flavors
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February is one of those “in-between” months for me. One foot out of winter and one foot ready to set down in spring. I’m anxious for springtime vegetables to start poking their heads out of the ground, so that I can slice up some fresh spears of asparagus and shell tender pea pods from the trellis, tossing them in a quick stir-fry. But alas, the season is not ready for me.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of ways to engage with the shoulder season. Butternut squash seems to last forever, early season Raf tomatoes in Spain are some of the most flavorful I’ve ever had, and whole grains are a year-round staple. Which brings us to this week’s featured recipe, a vegetable-packed one bowl salad, bursting with barley & butternut squash.
It also brings me to the subject of one-bowl meals. The beauty of these bowls is that pretty much anything goes. At the heart of a successful one-bowl combination is keeping everything in balance between whatever vegetables you have on hand, whatever grains you;ve stored in the pantry or the freezer, and whatever protein you want to toss in. You can always rely on a simple one bowl system for creating healthy balanced Mediterranean diet meals.
The treats that top it off to make it extra special and add even more texture, flavor and color can range from nuts and seeds, sprouts, diced avocado, fresh herbs or still-in-season pomegranate arils if you’re looking for a juicy crunchy burst of color. Finally, the essential pull-it-all-together part, just the right dressing.
As always, you’ll find a few extra healthy recipe treats in the menu PDF besides the meal plan I promised you (mostly because I just can’t help myself). In this week’s menu, I’ve added the Mix & Match Guide above and three salad dressing recipes that span a wide range of flavors so that you can pair just the right one with your bowl!
If you’re already a paid subscriber then you know these little extras show up almost every week as a small bonus to show my appreciation for your support. If you haven’t yet had the chance to join us, what are you waiting for?
But right now, it’s time to pull up a chair, grab a cup or a glass and join me in my Mediterranean kitchen while we work our way from one flavor-packed meal to another.
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I love the mix and match bowls. I’m using this idea to build our bowls for tea tonight. Thanks Caroline