Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Working Girl Salad Recipe w Tuna

recipe for vegitable tuna saladPretty much, a typical lunch for me, even when I worked in an office, is a tuna melt with cheddar cheese that I wolf down and then feel protein-ed after. But I need to broaden my range. I can't keep eating these thoughtless tuna melts, or my brain might just turn into mayonnaise, tuna and cheddar.

So I've started a pursuit of a few good salads to make at home. I started by going to a cafe down the street, spent $7.95 for a little salad inspiration, and here's what I've got:

The Working Girl Salad Recipe with Tuna

Note: helpful to fix salad while listening to The Little Willies.
This salad will be mainly fresh tasting vegetables and a scoop and a half of tuna salad.

Prep time: 7 minutes (if you've prepared the tuna salad already)

1 cucumber
1 small squash
1 small root of ginger
1 New Jersey vine tomato
1 avocado
1 lemon
1 bunch of cilantro
generous amount of Kraft parmesan
2 cans Bumblebee Tuna (or if you do organic or brand of choice)
1/2 tablespoon butter
2 spoonfuls mayonnaise
lettuce that is purple on top
lettuce that is very green and leafy
15 spinach leaves (for folic acid)
Balentino sea salt (don't fear the salt)
Ziploc bags


Prepare the tuna salad in advance (see tuna salad recipe below). You can keep scooping from it.

In a small pan on medium heat (high heat if you have an electric stove), spread melted butter over the surface. Slice about 9 slices of the squash, and spread evenly in the pan. While it is cooking, put the amount of lettuce onto your plate that you want, and rip into bite-sized pieces. Slice about 5 thin slices of cucumber and put onto the salad. Cut the tomato in half and put one half in a Ziploc bag. Slice the other half into thin slices and place next to pile of cucumbers. Halve the avocado by cutting into it lengthwise and cutting around the pit. Twist the avocado apart and put the half that has the pit in it into a ziploc bag and into the fridge. Salt the other half of the avocado and lightly cut into 8ths. Run the knife under the avocado (but above the skin) close to the skin to scoop out the slices you just created, and lightly squeeze them onto the lettuce.

Oops, don't forget about those squashes. Turn the squashes with a fork and knife, and let the other side absorb the butter. Let sit for about 2 minutes, and then sprinkle with Kraft parmesan to taste. The parmesan should absorb the butter and start to look golden. That is when you know they are done.

Scoop the tuna salad into the center of the lettuce. Scoop the amount of tuna salad that you feel like eating. The squash should be done, so turn off the stove, take the pan and spread the parmasan squash over the salad. This puts the salad over the top!

You need dressing. Squeeze a thick slice of lemon over the entire salad. Voila! Make sure to get a bite of tuna with every bite!

Tuna Salad Recipe with Ginger

Makes about 3 meals with a lettuce salad.

Dump the two cans of tuna into a bowel, and quickly chop with a fork to make it into little pieces. Scoop two spoonfuls of mayo into the bowel. Take the ginger root and with a sharp knife (be careful!) lightly peel the outside part off of the piece of ginger you wish to use. Also with the knife, shred small pieces of ginger into the bowel of tuna. Do this to taste, or use about 15-20 little shreds. Rip a small handful of cilantro from the bunch and chop. Pour it into the bowel of tuna. Sprinkle salt to taste. Mix the contents, and store under cling wrap in the fridge.

I'm not going to lie. My love handles are thanking me! Even when I finish the yumminess of the parmesan cooked squash, my love handles are still giddy! You could even make this the night before and bring to your office.

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6 comments:

Kimberly said...

Dear Katie Doodles,

I am worried about the mercury content in your body. If you continue to dose yourself daily with tuna, may I suggest that you at least eat organic? The FDA agrees with me on this one.

I'm sure they make some sort of tofu tuna product, hows about that?

You're loving, yet environmentally mindful sister,

Kim the Bim

Unknown said...

My Dear Enviornmentally Mindful Sister,

I agree with you and the FDA on the merucy content. And I am mindful. Sadly, I also like salmon. And a nice fried, juicy salmon is also quite delish with this salad. But it too could have mercury, especially when bought from where I am buying it from.

That said, when I ate at Whole Foods, and when I piled pesto baked tofu onto my chicken ceaser salad, I LOST wieght. It was so odd. So maybe I could consider some tofu of some sort. An order to Fresh Direct is coming soon, so maybe I will add it to the list. Yuch, tofu. But at Whole Foods it was good. What is the world coming to??

Anonymous said...

Isn't soy thought to be linked to breast cancer?

I don't know if it's true, but my ex's mother had breast cancer and her during her recovery one of the things she had to abstain from was soy. She really freaked a bit when she found out I was drinking soymilk. I immediately stopped.

She's from Germany and got her treatment in Germany...I tend to trust the word of doctors in Europe as opposed to in the US when it comes to food-related issues. :0l

Mista, can you leave a comment on my blog about the business plan services from Matchstick? (I think that was the name)...I saw your article on Huffington, and I think I could use the same services, but I'm wondering what the costs are like. I can't afford to pay tons. :0(

Unknown said...

Hey Mlle Smith,
Didn't know that about soy, since I only drink organic whole milk! One more reason not to go down the road of soy. Although David, the Boyfriend, did just buy some soy chocolate milk (his one action to be healthful...after having wings or Chinese for dinner) and it was tasty.

Certainly I can leave a comment about The Matchstick Group! I just snagged the main gal to work with Katie James on some online marketing for websites designed under the Katie James umbrella. Let me know if there is a particular post you want me to comment on, or I'll just post on your most recent.

Anonymous said...

Oh, that's perfect, you can comment on my most recent post. I'd leave my email address in your comments box instead, but I'm afraid these crafty spammers might get a hold of it and bombard me with Viagra. :0(

I wonder what her rates are like for online marketing campaigns, too. <:0)

Unknown said...

Will do! That's funny you ask, because I have just partnered with her to develop online marketing campaigns for Katie James clients. Coming over to comment...