A Guide to Creating Healthy Salads Fit for a Family Dinner

/by

Are you looking for something healthier to serve for a family dinner? Entree salads are a filling, delicious, and healthy choice to give your family something a bit different. Many of these meals are full of protein, fresh veggies, and tons of flavor. Here are some ideas for healthy salads you can serve your family for dinner. 

Chopped Salad With Chicken and Blue Cheese

If you want a salad with a ton of flavor that will be filling, put this one on your list. You can use chopped spinach and romaine or all spinach for your greens. Then, you include bite-sized chunks of chicken, tomatoes, red peppers, cucumbers, olives, and onion. It’s tossed with a homemade blue cheese dressing. 

Rainbow Chopped Salad With Mozzarella & Basil

This delicious salad will be a hit with your kids because it is also so colorful. It only takes about 30 minutes to prepare and is gluten-free. Some of the ingredients include chopped kale, mozzarella pearls, yellow bell peppers, carrots, red cabbage, and grape tomatoes. You can also top it with some fresh grilled chicken. 

Asian Slaw With Steak

Just because you’re eating a salad doesn’t mean you have to skip the red meat. This Asian Slaw with Steak salad is tasty, filling, and simple to prepare. It includes cabbage, shredded carrots, green onions, fresh cilantro, and, of course, sliced steak. 

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

There’s just something so fresh about eating strawberries with your meal. This spinach and strawberry salad is a favorite because it combines the sweetness of strawberries with a protein like grilled chicken or salmon. Everything lays on a bed of spinach leaves and is topped with feta and walnuts. 

Green Salad With Chickpeas & Spicy Honey Dressing

If you want a vegetarian salad for a family meal, this green salad with chickpeas is an excellent choice. It is made from two lettuces and chickpeas, which add protein to the dish. There are also cucumbers and sesame seeds. The dish is topped with a sweet and spicy tahini dressing. 

Thai Curry Chicken Salad

This yummy Thai Curry Chicken Salad combines Thai curry chicken with veggies, fresh pineapple, and creamy Dijon mustard. It’s simple to make and entirely customizable. If you don’t like some of the ingredients or want to add others, you’ll still end up with an amazing result. 

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

One thing to love about pasta salad is that it’s filling. That makes it a great choice for a meal. This chicken Caesar pasta salad combines a traditional Caesar salad with pasta, bacon, and chicken, to make a delicious and filling meal. It’s also simple to make. You can elect to make your own Caesar dressing or use one you purchase from the store. 

Tarragon Tuna Salad

This tasty and well-seasoned salad is also good for you. It’s made from two cans of tuna, lettuce leaves, fresh tarragon, reduced-fat mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and a few other ingredients. 

Chicken Fajita Salad With Lime-Cilantro Dressing

Get the fajita flavor with your dinner, and skip the carbs that come with tortillas. This chicken fajita salad includes grilled chicken and avocado over a bed of romaine lettuce. Other ingredients include limes, jalapeno and bell peppers, onion, honey, and cilantro. 

Blackened Chicken Cobb Salad

If you like your chicken with a kick, make sure to put this blackened chicken cobb salad on your list. It’s a keto-friendly and low-carb meal that includes hard-boiled eggs, sliced avocado, and lots of greens. 

Classic Crab Salad

Living in Maryland, you probably eat a lot of crab. This Classic Crab Salad recipe is one of the best ways to enjoy crab meat, which you can turn into a delicious meal for your family. All you need to create this magic is crab meat, fresh herbs, crisp veggies, and a creamy lemon dressing. 

Get the Freshest Produce at Nick’s of Clinton

If you want to create healthy and delicious salads for your family meals, you need to use only the freshest ingredients. When you shop at Nick’s of Clinton, you’ll get fresh produce straight from local suppliers. You’ll find the highest-quality fruits and vegetables in our store, as well as other salad pairings, such as nuts, cheeses, meat, eggs, and more. 

If you’re looking for something specific or have any questions about our products, we’d be happy to help. Our family-owned business has served the Southern Maryland community for over four decades, providing fantastic quality and superior customer service. Give us a call at (301) 843-4825 or stop into our store in Waldorf today.

 

The Best Cuts of Meat and How to Cook Them

/by

When a skilled butcher creates different cuts of steak from a cow, you end up with a lot of delicious meat. But each cut has a different flavor and texture. Knowing what to choose and how to cook it can be confusing, especially when you walk into your local grocery store and see it all displayed together. To demystify some of this, here is what you need to know about some of the best cuts of steak and how to cook them. 

The Best Cuts of Meat and How to Cook Them

Filet Mignon

What It Is:

Filet mignon is a tender part of the cow’s back, coming from the very tip of the tenderloin. It does lack some flavor because it doesn’t come with a bone. But you can certainly enhance its taste when preparing it. 

How to Cook It:

Many cooks love to wrap a filet in bacon. Because this is a thick cut of meat, it’s ideal for grilling or broiling. Whichever method you choose, a shorter cooking time will lock in the flavors. It can also be combined with your favorite au jus or sauce, like bearnaise. 

T-Bone

What It Is:

This is a recognizable cut of meat due to its T-shaped bone. The meat contains a nice-sized tenderloin on one side and a strip of top loin on the other. 

How to Cook It:

This type of steak is best prepared by grilling or pan-frying with a variety of seasonings, like basic salt and pepper, paprika, coriander, and turmeric. 

New York Strip

What It Is:

A New York strip steak comes from a part of the cow’s short loin. This is a boneless steak that you get from the larger end of the loin. It generally has a lot of marbling and will come with some large pieces of fat surrounding the meat. While not the most tender meat, New York strip is known for having a ton of flavor. 

How to Cook It:

The best way to cook this meat is over high heat. You first can add seasoning to your taste and then grill, broil, or pan-sear the meat to your desired doneness. 

Prime Rib

What It Is:

Prime rib, as the name suggests, comes from the cow’s rib section. It is a large roasting joining that generally contains big sections of rib bone. As such, the meat usually has a lot of flavor. 

How to Cook It:

This cut of meat is best cooked for an extended time at a low temperature. If you are looking for a slow-cook type of meat, prime rib might be an ideal choice. 

Ribeye

What It Is:

Also sometimes called a Delmonico, a ribeye steak comes from the center, or “eye,” of a cow’s rib area. This type of steak usually has a lot of marbling, which is the fat around the muscles. While a ribeye’s flavor is known to be mild, it is also incredibly juicy and tender. 

How to Cook It:

In general, ribeyes should be cooked over the grill to about medium. You can grill a ribeye slightly longer than other meat due to its high fat content. Combine the meat with any sauce or seasonings you prefer for additional flavor. 

Brisket

What It Is:

Brisket is found on the cow’s lower breast. It is one of the most popular cuts of meat due to its versatility. You’ll find it anywhere from Texas BBQ to Vietnamese Pho. 

How to Cook It:

There are many different ways to cook brisket. One of the most traditional ways is to cover it with your favorite rub and then slow smoke it until it looks like it’s about to fall apart. 

Top Sirloin

What It Is:

A top sirloin steak comes from directly below the cow’s tenderloin strip area. This means it can be tough because the meat comes from a muscular part of the cow. But that shouldn’t discourage you from trying it. This steak can be quite flavorful.  

How to Cook It:

The best way to prepare and cook top sirloin is to first brush it with olive oil and then add your favorite seasonings. This steak should be grilled, and medium rare is the best temperature to achieve optimal flavor and tenderness. 

Get the Best Cuts of Meat at Nick’s of Clinton

As you can see, there are many different cuts of meat you can choose to cook and different ways to prepare them. But you’ll want to start with high-quality meat. If you’d like help choosing the perfect cut, feel free to ask one of our butchers for assistance. Our meat counter is the centerpiece of our store! Nick’s of Clinton is always happy to help customers find the perfect items for their next family meal, barbeque, or event. Visit us today or give us a call at (301) 843-4825. 

Christmas Dinner—Choosing the Best Sides

/by

With Christmas just around the corner, now’s the time to start planning your holiday menu if you’ll be hosting this year. At Nick’s of Clinton, we have everything you need for Christmas dinner, from the main dishes to the perfect desserts. If you’re struggling to decide which sides to serve, we have you covered with a variety of premade side dishes that just need to be popped into the oven As you ponder over what to prepare, consider this rundown of common main dishes, favorite Christmas sides, and popular desserts.

Christmas—The Main Dish

For those who aren’t vegetarians or vegans, Christmas dinner will almost always feature a meat dish as the centerpiece of the meal. 

  • Ham. A Christmas ham is one of the most traditional Christmas dishes, and can be found on tables throughout the country. It’s rumored that the tradition of serving ham for Christmas began in Germany. 
  • Turkey. If you didn’t get enough of the bird on Thanksgiving, you might choose to serve a turkey on Christmas. Other fowl are also common, especially in other countries. 
  • Prime rib. Not a pork or fowl type of person? If you want to serve something extra special, prime rib is another Christmas favorite. It’s so popular that many restaurants serving Christmas dinner will have this on their menus. 
  • Lobster. If you live in the northeastern part of the United States or are from an Italian-American family, you may choose to feature lobster or other seafood on your Christmas table. 
  • Lamb. Finally, serving lamb is a specialty that many families will choose this holiday season. Roast lamb with a pomegranate sauce may be especially delicious. 

Favorite Christmas Sides

Even if you are crazy about the main course, there’s no doubt that a Christmas dinner wouldn’t be complete without a range of sweet and savory sides. There are dozens of different sides to choose from, so we’ve put together a list of some of the best and most popular sides. 

  • Yorkshire pudding. Not really a pudding in the traditional sense, Yorkshire pudding is a British dish that is a savory, baked pudding made from flour, milk, and eggs. As a savory dish, it’s typically served before or with the main course—not after as a traditional “pudding” dessert might be. 
  • Creamed spinach. Delicious, savory, and healthy, creamed spinach is a favorite Christmas tradition on the table, and goes especially well alongside lamb or prime rib. 
  • Biscuits or rolls (or both!). The Christmas table wouldn’t be complete without some sort of bread on the table. Flaky biscuits are always a delight, although some prefer more of a traditional roll. Undecided? Why not do both? 
  • Brussel sprouts. Brussel sprouts have become much more popular in America over the past decade, as the main method of preparation has switched from boiling to baking or sauteing on a skillet. There are multiple different ways to serve brussels, including brussel sprouts baked with bacon and cheese. 
  • Cranberry sauce. Like turkey, cranberry sauce is traditionally a Thanksgiving food. However, the deep red color and the sweet and tart combination make it a favorite during Christmas, too. 
  • Yams. There are multiple yam recipes out there, including both sweet and savory options. If you did sweet yams with marshmallows for Thanksgiving, you might consider a more savory yam dish for the Christmas holiday. 
  • Roast squash. Squash is a great dish to serve that’s healthy, savory, and just starchy enough to be filling. 
  • Green beans. While a green bean casserole may not be as common during Christmas, green beans almondine is quite popular this time of year. 

Popular Christmas Dinner Desserts

Christmas dinner wouldn’t be complete without a dessert! Some of our favorite desserts include: 

  • Cheesecake. Cheesecake will be found on a large percentage of Americans’ tables this holiday, and is one of the most popular Christmastime desserts. Try a peppermint cheesecake to be extra festive. 
  • Yule log. A traditional dessert that is served in multiple parts of the world is a yule log cake. Prepared to look like a wooden yule log, this chocolate cake filled with mascarpone whipped cream is quite tasty. 
  • Christmas pudding. A Christmas pudding isn’t exactly the gelatinous pudding that you’re used to in America; instead, “Christmas pudding” is a British dessert that’s more like a sponge cake or fruitcake. While British, it’s served in many American homes during Christmas. 
  • Cookies. If you’re feeling a little whopped after all that holiday cooking and can’t fathom the idea of putting together a dessert on top of everything else, go with something simple—Christmas cookies are always a great option, and you can even buy a pack straight from the store. We won’t tell anyone. 

Get All Your Grocery Shopping Done at Nick’s of Clinton

At Nick’s of Clinton, we have everything you need for your entire Christmas meal, including your sides. Visit our location on Charles Parkway or call us with any questions at (301) 843-4825. 

Quick Meals – How to Prepare Quick Meals Now That the Kids Are Back in School

/by

When the kids go back to school, you might think you’re going to have more time on your hands. But it usually doesn’t work out that way. Everyone’s schedule instantly gets cluttered with things like homework, sports, social outings, and the occasional family break.

As you deal with the hustle and bustle of back to school, the last thing you want is having to create a complex meal calendar. Simple is better. But you also want tasty food and a variety of options. Here are some quick meals you can prepare that are delicious and won’t take too much time.

Ravioli Casserole

If you’re looking for something simple and fast, you can’t go wrong with this recipe. It only has six ingredients and two steps.

Ingredients:

● 1 package (20 ounces) refrigerated cheese ravioli
● 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
● 3 ½ cups pasta sauce
● 2 cups small curd cottage cheese
● ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
● Fresh parsley, minced (optional)

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cook ravioli per the package directions. In a 13X9 inch baking dish (ungreased), spread 1 cup pasta sauce. Layer half the ravioli on top of the sauce, followed by 1 ¼ cups sauce, 1 cup cottage cheese, and 2 cups mozzarella cheese. Repeat. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese.
2. Bake, uncovered, for 30-40 minutes until the casserole is cooked through and bubbly. Cut and serve.

Lemon Butter Shrimp and Broccoli

If you own a skillet, this lemon butter shrimp and broccoli dish is a simple and yummy meal.

Ingredients:

● 1 12-oz bag of jumbo easy peel frozen shrimp (peeled and deveined)
● 1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets
● 4 garlic cloves, minced
● 1 lemon, freshly juiced
● 1 lemon, sliced
● 4 tbsp unsalted butter
● 1 tbsp olive oil
● Salt and pepper
● Pinch of red pepper flakes, crushed
● 1 pouch of brown rice or quinoa

Preparation:

1. Pat and completely dry your shrimp with a paper towel.
2. Heat your olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the broccoli florets and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove the broccoli and place on a plate.
3. Add 2 tbsp butter to the skillet. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper then cook in the skillet for about 1-2 minutes on each side. Add the garlic cloves.
4. Add the remaining 2 tbsp butter to the skillet, the lemon juice, and the lemon slices. Let the mixture simmer for 1-2 minutes. Sprinkle in the red pepper flakes.
5. Add the broccoli back to the skillet and toss together. Serve with your choice of rice on the side.

Baked Swiss Chicken

This is another simple and tasty recipe that only has a few ingredients and steps to get you from the kitchen to the dinner table on those busy school days.

Ingredients:

● 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
● 1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
● 6 slices Swiss cheese
● ½ cup white wine or chicken broth
● 1 cup crushed croutons

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Using a 13X9 inch greased baking dish, line the chicken breasts along the bottom. Combine the soup and wine in a small bowl and then pour the mixture over the chicken. Top with the cheese and sprinkle with crushed croutons.
2. Bake uncovered for about 35-40 minutes or until the chicken temperature reads 165 degrees. Serve with your favorite side dish.

Crispy Baked Quesadillas

These baked quesadillas are delicious and a favorite of adults and kids of all ages. And you can play around with the ingredients to create something your family will love.

Ingredients:

● 3-4 8-inch flour tortillas
● 1 pound cooked turkey taco meat, spiced to your liking
● 1 14-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
● 1- 1 ½ cup salsa
● 1 ½ cup grated Mexican cheese
● Olive oil
● Shredded lettuce and sour cream for toppings

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Brush a baking sheet with some olive oil.
2. Place each tortilla on the baking sheet and fill one side with a layer of the cooked turkey, black beans, salsa, and cheese. Fold the tortilla over and brush with olive oil.
3. Bake for 8 minutes. Gently turn over and bake for 8 more minutes. Serve warm with your favorite toppings.

Do Your Quick Meal Shopping at Nick’s of Clinton

When you’re preparing these quick meals, you want the high-quality and most affordable ingredients. For over 50 years, Nick’s of Clinton has been delivering a full-service experience to customers throughout Southern Maryland. Our business was built on the foundation of a combination of top-level customer services and superior-quality products.

When you shop at Nick’s, we offer one-stop shopping for all your grocery needs, including a full-service meat department and deli and Nick’s signature line of products. Stop in and visit us today.