It’s recipe Wednesday again! For today’s Recipe & A Book Recommendation we have a delicious salad to help you beat the heat and two romance series to make your evening sizzle. Enjoy!
Strawberry Romaine Salad
Today’s recipe is perfect for lunch or a light evening meal. I have added grilled chicken to this for a family meal. Feel free to skip the nuts and change out the cheese to suit your taste.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3/4 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper
- 1 large head of romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 large head Boston lettuce (butterhead lettuce), chopped
- 1 pint of strawberries, sliced and cleaned
- 4 oz of shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
- 1 cup of toasted walnuts
Mix dressing: Mix together oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, garlic, paprika, and pepper. Right before serving toast walnuts on a cookie sheet or in the toaster oven for one minute.
Next: Toss together lettuces, strawberries, and cheese. Toss with dressing, top with nuts and serve. This recipe is absolutely delicious. Enjoy 🙂
Book Recommendation:
This week I am sharing romances that are sure to please regardless of your preferred romantic genre.
I asked Christy @ Christy’s Love of Books to recommend a romance that is perfect for summer. Christy has an eclectic taste in Young Adult and New Adult, with the occasional adult novel. She reads everything from romance to horror. This was her response:
“When asked for a YA/NA summer romance recommendation, The Boys of Summer is at the top of the list. The whole Summer series, really. They’re fun, have great characters, and truly capture the summertime feel. Oh, and hot Australian guys! What more needs to be said? ;)”
It seemed only natural to nickname them the “Onslow Boys”. Every time they swaggered in the front door of the Onslow Hotel after a hard week’s work; their laughter loud and genuine as they settled onto their bar stools. I peeked through the restaurant partition; a flimsy divider between my world and theirs. I couldn’t help but smile whenever I saw them, saw him…. Toby Morrison.
Right now there are three books and a novella available with a fourth book, Forever Summer, due to release in July. Dubbed as a mature young adult, these stories make the perfect summer reads. Check out C.J Duggan‘s series:
Next, I asked Anna @ Herding Cats & Burning Soup to recommend a book or series that is perfect for summer. Check out her recommendation and then be sure and check out her blog. Anna has an adult book blog that can be naughty or nice. She also dishes up meals, offers Blogger tips and has some fun giveaways. This was her recommendation:
“So. The best contemporary series that just screams “Must Read” this summer…Shannon Stacey’s Kowalski Family series! Especially the first three books–Exclusively Yours, Undeniably Yours and Yours to Keep. I absolutely loved them. They’re hilarious and sweet and heartfelt. Just easy romances that’ll make you sigh, maybe have you swooning a little, have you laughing until you cry and will definitely leave you wanting to be a part of this quirky and endearing family as they spend time together and start to find their happily ever afters.”
A contemporary romance series full of family, fun, and falling in love. I wrote the first book in the series, Exclusively Yours, just for fun, as it incorporates many of the things I enjoy—four-wheeling, s’mores, family, love, and laughter. In All He Ever Needed, the series shifts from New Hampshire to the small town in Maine where that branch of the Kowalski family lives, and with Taken With You, the series expands to bring happily ever afters to members of the Whitford community who have been friends of the Kowalskis.-Shannon Stacey
Thanks to Christy and Anna for their summer romance recommendations. What book do you think is perfect for summer?
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lindy
Your strawberry salad looks so refreshing for this hot summer weather! I’ve heard great things about the Summer Series, but with your recommendation, I’m thinking I need to read this one!!!
Dani
Love the Summer series! It is one of my faves! 🙂
Michelle
This looks so good! I really need to read The Boys of Summer! I have them on my Kindle but just haven’t had the time. It sounds like the perfect combo. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Jennifer
I LOVE Shannon Stacey’s Kowalski Family series! I still need to read the latest one.
Berls
That salad sounds yummy! I’ve always loved a bit of fruit in my salad, it’s a nice balance and very summery! And I already have C.J.’s series on my TBR – maybe this summer, it would be very appropriate 🙂
Jessica
You’ve got a good thing going here. That salad looks delicious, and I’ve been meaning to read Boys of Summer AND get back to the Kowalskis for awhile now. This needs to happen 😉
Diana Leigh
That is a beautiful salad! Strawberries are my fave.
Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf
That salad looks delicious! For some reason though I just am not a fan of pairing sweet and not sweet things…so I’m not huge on fruit in salad…but it sure is pretty! Great book recs too, guys!
Jennifer Bielman
Duggans books are the perfect summer reads. Can’t wait for the next book.
I have really been loving some kind of fruit on my salads, like strawberries or blueberries. I will have to try this recipe out.
Cyn
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Cyn
Yay! Great recs! I always say yes to hot Australian Boys and yummy salads!
Tina
That salad sounds pretty tasty. There is nothing like an amazing salad in the summer!
Lauren
The Summer series – I NEED to read it! Seems like almost every blogger I love is head over heels for it. This recipe looks so yummy! I’ll have to make it when I get home from my vacation! Thanks for sharing 🙂
ShootingStarsMag
Mm…that salad looks really good! How fun that you got recs from other bloggers. 🙂
Sharon - Obsession with Books
Oooh yummy! this sounds so delicious, I have to look up that cheese to see what we have that is similar.
I really enjoy C.J Duggan’s books & the Kowalski family is fabulous!
A great post Kimba!
Angela Adams
A great summer dish! Thanks!!
Lupdilup
Ahh! That’s yummy 🙂 I love the Kowalski family. Now I have to check the Boys of Summer.
Great post!
Stephanie Faris
I always get salads with strawberries in restaurants, but I can’t stand the goat cheese they usually put on it. This is a reminder I can make it at home on my own! It’s good with honey mustard dressing and grilled chicken, as well.
Franny
Oh, I was looking forward to another one of your recipe posts! I’ve been looking for something fresh and quick to get together, since it’s summer and I don’t feel like spending too much time with pots and pans. It looks quite delicious, I’ll definitely add it to my repertoire, hehe!
Melissa (Books and Things)
Good food and good books. Need more? 🙂 What a fun post and oooh! another good bundle!
Valeria
This recipe sounds delicious! I’ll definitely try it out. Yum!!! And I have to agree on the Summer Series by C.J. Duggan. I absolutely love it! There is no way youn won’t love the Onslow Boys!
kindlemom1
I don’t normally like fruit in my veggie salads but this does sound yummy!
Lori
A perfect summer read and recipe to enjoy…love it! I might just try them both! Thanks for sharing Kimberly 🙂
Debbie Haupt
Kimba I’m definitely going to try your salad all the ingredients sound scrumptious and I am not a virgin when it comes to your recipe recommendations as your dump cake was a big hit in my home. I’ll also try your friend’s selections of summer romances.
I’d like to recommend Suddenly Last Summer by Sarah Morgan it’s her second in her O’Neil Brothers trilogy so also include Sleigh Bells In The Snow if this is new to you and have a Little Christmas in July while you’re at it.
deb
Siiri
Ooooh, this looks good!!! Need to try this 🙂 I haven’t read this series yet, but Nick and my friend Emma adore it so can’t wait to dig in. Haven’t read anything by Shannon Stacey either so perhaps soon? 🙂 Lovely post, Kimba!
sherry fundin
Perfect summer combo. Happy reading.
Andrea
Well, that salad looks yummy! And, I happen to have some of The Boys of Summer Books and some of the Kowalski books. This is an all-around win for me! Thanks for sharing, ladies!
Stephanie
I usually do not like fruit with my lettuce but this recipe sounds yummy. Thanks for sharing it!
I have some of the Shannon Stacey books in Mt. Read Me and this makes me want to pull them out and read them!
Candace
I haven’t had strawberries in a salad but I think that I need to try it. I’ve been eating salad more (everyday) and need to change things up. So I’ll try this one, the strawberries sound delicious right now!
I have The Boys of Summer, I just need to fit it in!
Laurel-Rain Snow
My favorite kind of salad! I am drooling here…LOL.
The books look enticing, too. Thanks! Here’s mine for today: “BIG LITTLE LIES”
Katherine
I love strawberry romaine salads and this looks like a great recipe! Thanks for sharing! I’ve seen the series but have yet to read it. Romances – especially contemps – are perfect for summer.
Nick
I would totally eat that salad if I liked strawberries (Yes, I’m an oddball!)
I read only one book in the Onslow boys series, but I had so much fun reading it, Kim!
Victoria (aka Zemfirka)
A nice summer salad! 🙂 Perfect for a hot day like we are having today. 😉
Mary
I’m adding these ingredients to my shopping list! Yummers. And the Summer Series sounds adorable.
Felicia the Geeky Blogger
I will have to give my sister this recipe! I am one of those weird people who don’t like strawberries 🙂 I know it is me that is weird LOL
Jenea
The recipes sounds yummy. The book recs sounds good, I would love to get this series. 🙂
Braine Talk Supe
Oooh I made a derivation of that salad last week but mine had lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries and manchego cheese. Yum! Salads are yummy!
And those men are yummy too! I don’t think I can ever go vegetarian or vegan after seeing that hot wet meat… he’s not jailbait right?
blodeuedd
Sounds perfect for summer 🙂
Wendy Darling
Mmm, this sounds so tasty! I love strawberries in salads, and that dressing sounds like it pairs with it so well. I hadn’t heard of the Kowalski family series either, but those covers are definitely eye-catchy, especially for summer.
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
Naomi
Christy has great taste!! I loved the Boys of Summer and i plan on reading the rest of the books soon! Even better, they are set in Aus, and it’s getting cold down here right now!!
Em ♥ (
some great looking summer reads that ive added to my amazon wishlist, its a shame payday is a few weeks away xx
Christy
Ha! The recipe is so perfect. I LOVE this kind of salad. I love salads, period, but this is so yummy. Hope everyone reads these books. And they do get more ‘mature’, if you know what I mean, with each book in the series. 😉
Melliane
Oh yes my mother loves the mix of the two, it’s nice and the colors are always great. I didn’t know the series but the cover are really sweet. thanks for sharing!