20 Comments

Well Emily, you and the Boys in the Lab, have been reading my mind again. I always make a salad to start a holiday meal. My precursor to thanksgiving and Easter meals is nearly always a hearts of palm and olive salad (sometimes with a bit of citrus or some nice greeny butter lettuce). Who are these people who are so intent of racing to the roasts?

I just made—to my husband’s delight—that fabulous citrus and fennel salad. And I personally plan to perhaps eat nothing but salads—in some form or other—in 2023.

Take heart. Settle down with an enormous hand crafted wooden salad bowl whose contents are solely meant for you and pull out a thick novel. (Maybe something by Edith Wharton?)

Thanks for a year of great recipes and newsletters.

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Deborah! Thank you, so much! I have been eating a lot of that salad by the way, and I'm glad your husband liked it, too! I love the idea of hearts of palm and olive--how do you dress it?

Thank you, sincerely, for this lovely note--Emily

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I make that second salad but I pickle the red onion!

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yes!!

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I made the fennel orange salad for Christmas supper with my family last night and it was just perfect. The addition of jalapeno was nothing short of revelatory - a wonderful complement to the fennel and orange and brighter than the usual pairing of green olive. Thank you, Emily! Happy Holidays!

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Jenny, that makes me so happy! I love the idea of one of my salads gracing your holiday table, and not just because I've enjoyed your recipes so much over the years. Happy new year to you and your family xoxoxo

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I am so ready to make this bomb salad to counter the bomb cyclone. Thank you!

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Yay! I hope it helped, Greta!

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Timely because I was planning to make some kind of fennel salad for Christmas. This sounds perfect. Probably will add arugula. Will have to dig out my mandoline which I'm a little afraid of but I love the way it finely shaves fennel. 🎄🤶

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I feel the same way about my mandoline--it scares me but I love it. Happy new year!

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Yum. Another favorite easy salad whose title is also basically the recipe: mango with lime and cilantro, a little oil, salt. You can throw in some diced peppers, avocado, cherry tomatoes, you are the boss of your salad.

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Oh, YUM!!!

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💚💚 will definitely be devouring that fennel and orange number! And as much as I adore the avocado & grapefruit and Herby salad now that I'm on a beta blocker I have to sub an orange for the grapefruit

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It would be really good with orange--but the grapefruit is just over the top. I hope you enjoy the fennel one, Vicki!

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I LOVE your fennel salad (AND grapefruit with avocado - heart meds side effects, not so much !!

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Will be treating myself to the grapefruit one! Thanks for the reminder!

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Yay! It's such a cheery salad! xo

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Absolutely perfect salad (haven’t made it yet but I can imagine).

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Helene, thank you--if I had to pick candidates for Perfect Salad, this would be among them definitely--so light and bright and still satisfying and delicious! Happy new year!

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Hi Emily—my mother was Brazilian so my affection for hearts of palm comes from her. But hearts of palm salad is so forgiving and accepting. Like I said, citrus is a great addition. But you can add butter lettuce or even avocado. My mother’s traditional recipe added big black olives (yum) and hard boiled eggs (which I personally found to be sort of gross with the other lighter ingredients).

Best dressing (again, it’s personal):

3 parts good olive oil to 1 part white balsamic (but any acid will really work)

A dash of dry Coleman’s (if you like)

Salt & pepper to taste

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