One little perk of blogging about food is the many cookbooks that arrive on my doorstep. I heard Todd and Diane had photographed a new cookbook, so I couldn’t wait to flip through and take a look. Big Bowl of Love by Chrisina Farrare is full of great down-home classics like Chicken Piccata, Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Classic Roast Beef, and Blackberry Cobbler. The easy-to-find ingredients complement her easy-to-follow methods. Todd and Diane Cu worked their usual magic and nearly every other page inspires with a gorgeous full-page photograph.
Pete and I had the rare opportunity of dinner at home without the kids a few weeks ago. A quiet house, a good salad and a few beers made for an enjoyable evening. I decided to cook one of the recipes from Big Bowl of Love and we were both amazed at the flavors. A spicy black bean salad with tender greens, guacamole, and salsa sat on top of a crunchy tortilla. The black bean salad is great alone as a dip with chips, put into quesadillas, or eaten by itself. It was the perfect springtime meal to enjoy as the sun set – just the two of us.
Sterling Publishing kindly sent me two copies of Christina’s book so I have one to give away today. To enter, leave a comment below. To get an extra entry, head over to Facebook and become a fan of Deliciously Organic. Giveaway ends Sunday, 10 April at 11:59pm. Contest open to US states only. One name will be selected using random.org and be contacted. The winner has 3 days to respond before being disqualified and a new winner chosen. Good luck!
Chicken Tostada Salad
Reprinted from Cristina Ferrare’s Big Bowl of Love © 2011 by Cristina Ferrare. Permission granted from Sterling Epicure, an imprint of Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Serves 6
Vinaigrette
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Bean Salsa
2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 medium red bell pepper, diced small
1 medium yellow bell pepper, diced small
2 celery ribs, diced small
1 tablespoon diced jalapeno
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Assembly
6 (8-inch) whole wheat or gluten-free tortillas
2 cups salsa
2 cups guacamole
6 cups baby arugula or baby greens
3 cups chopped chicken breast
1 1/2 cups shredded Monterey jack cheese
6 lime wedges
8 fresh cilantro sprigs
1 small jalapeno, seeded and diced
Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Brush tortillas on both sides with olive oil. Place them in the oven on the rack and bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until crisp and golden brown. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn. Remove from the oven and set aside.
To make the lemon dressing, in a glass bowl combine the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt, and mix well. Set aside.
Make the tomato salsa and guacamole. Cover and set aside in the refrigerator.
To make bean salsa, in a bowl, combine the beans, red and yellow peppers, celery, scallions, jalapeno, olive oil, lemon juice, cumin, salt an dpepper to taste and cilantro. Mix well. If you have the time, cover and let sit in the refrigerator for an hour; it will bring out the many layers of flavors. Any leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for 2 days.
When you are ready to serve, drizzle 3 tablespoons of lemon dressing over the arugula or baby greens and mix well. Place on tortilla on each plate. Spread 2 tablespoons of guacamole over each tortilla. Add 1/2 cup of bean salsa toward the middle of the tortilla. Add 1 cup of arugula or greens over the bean salsa. Top with 1/2 cup chopped chicken, as much of the tomato salsa as you like and 2 tablespoons of Monterey jack (more if desired). Garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs and diced jalapeno. Serve with lime wedges.
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I rave about myself every night at the dinner table, “Honey, can you believe I made this??” And it’s all thanks to you!! (and teaching me that organic butter is welcomed and embraced! No more fat free, yay!!
{ 96 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks like a great recipe and I’ve heard only wonderful things about this book. Would love to have a copy!
I am already a fan on facebook
Wow, that salad looks amazing! I want that today.
I am already a fan of your on FAcebook!
I too received this wonderful book. This recipe looks great as do so many in this book.
Yum! That salad looks so good and I would certainly enjoy a new cookbook.
I am a Facebook fan!
Your tostada looks delicious! I’d love to have that cookbook. I’ve seen it mentioned on several blogs and the recipes always sound so yummy!
Wow! That looks delicious! It has all of my favorites: black beans, avocado, cilantro, lime, cheese…..Yum!
Finding new salad recipes is always a treat! Thanks for sharing. Your blog has become one of my favorite food blogs!
we LOVE anything with Mexican flavors, and my husband would go nuts for this. Putting it on the meal plan soon!
already a fan on FB!
Yum! I’d love to get my hands on a copy of that book!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m a fan on facebook!
Yay!
Yummy!! I want to win that cookbook – sounds great!
I am in love with Christina’s book. Great recipes and gorgeous photos! I can’t wait to try all of the recipes!
Carrie! Glad to see a -what I call- Summertime recipe. We made pasta the other day and served it hot. I discovered that eating hot food in hot weather is NOT fun. So this cool recipe on a hot day will be perfect. I’m so glad for your Facebook feed. It’s the best way to keep up your blogging
I’m a fan on Facebook and would love to win this book!
Thank you for the chance to win this cookbook. Looks and sounds like a good one!
YUM! I am drooling!!!
Pick me! Pick me! I’d never let that copy leave my side!
Looks like a great idea for the summer when you don’t want anything too heavy!!
I have been a fan of Christina Ferrare’s since she was on the morning show with Steve Edwards in the 80′s! This salad looks amazing and I am sure the photographs make you want to eat the pages! Lucky for you and Pete – life gets in the way sometimes and these stolen few hours with one another makes all the difference in the world for our relationships!
Sounds quite lovely! Count me in!
Would love a copy to compliment my new cooking habit!
The salad recipe sounds great – thanks.
Ohh yummy salad! I would love a new cookbook, too.
Please enter me
)
I also “liked” your Facebook page. Thanks!
Nice! So funny, I made homemade tostadas last night too. I used organic stone ground corn tortillas and pan fried them in coconut oil, topped it with chickin, beasn salsa, cheese and avacado. So good!
Would love to win the cookbook! Yum!
I am a fan on Facebook too!
Recipe looks great. Can’t wait to give it a try and check out the rest of your posts as this is my first visit to your site.
Looks delicious! These are the kinds of things I have to work to come up with, so having a cookbook with it all there already would be wonderful!
Thanks for posting another great looking recipe. Can’t wait to try it!
The cookbook sounds wonderful!
Sign me up! Looks delicious!
Looks wonderful–can’t wait to try this recipe!
Would love to win!
I could always use another cookbook!
Anything Mexican is a serious favorite in our house! I’ve heard good things about this cookbook!
I always enjoy looking through a new cookbook.
I love cook books! this one sounds awesome and thanks for the great recipes =)
This looks delicious…and I always love a new cookbook!
Am already a fan on FB!
Love Cristina’s show! Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Yummy…looks so good!
What a great salad to kick off spring!
I’m a fan of Deliciously Organic on FB.
Got your cookbook today! Can’t wait to try everything! Although I could always use more cookbooks…
I can’t wait to try the recipe! I would love the cookbook
I love anything with black beans and guacamole! This looks delish!
Yumm, would love this cookbook – thanks!
This tostada looks yummy!
That salad looks amazing.
This salad looks great–I would love to add this cookbook to my collection!
I already like your FB page.
This looks so fabulously healthy & delicious! It’ll be a perfect treat after a hard day of heavy yardwork & garden prep this weekend.
Love organic, love mexican and love your blog!! (and I’m already a fan on FB)!!
I am a fan on FB
I would love to win your cookbook…I have a vegan daughter and it is a new concept for me. I think that your book would be great help to me!
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the cookbook!
I am a fan on facebook!
Looks yummy.
I am a facebook fan!
This recipe makes me start thinking about summer and tasty summer meals. Yum! I am so glad that spring is finally here!
yum..did someone say blueberry cobbler?
YUM!! tostadas are my favorite!
I would love to be entered. Thanks for the chance.
How fun!
Looks delish!
Love your site. Just got your cookbook, a new one would be great. Heading over to FB to sign up
Blessings.
Thanks for all the great recipes and information!
This tostada salad looks delicious. This cookbook sounds great, thanks for the chance to win a copy! I always love a new cookbook!
I’m a fan of Deliously Organic on facebook.
I’m a fan of Deliciously Organic on facebook.
Sounds good, lovely picture!
Mmmmmm. This looks delicious! I wish could lick the screen.
I’d love to win! Thanks!
I love Chrisinas show “Big bowl of Love” on the OWN network. Has she been renewed for another season? Excited about her cookbook! Thrilled to see you made one of her delicious recipes! Thanks!
Great Recipe! thanks for the chance to win the cookbook.
Sounds like an amazing cookbook!! I love cooking “simply!”
I would love to win!!
I love salad and avocados! Love to win that cookbook!
That looks delicious!!
I’ve been watching Chrisina Farrare on Oprah’s new network & LOVE her cooking style & recipes. Hope I win!!
I’ve loved her since The Home and Family Show. I still use some of Cristina’s recipes from that show to this day!
I’m always looking for new recipe’s! I would love this cookbook!!
It’s hard for me to use a cookbook that doesn’t have pictures. Always happy to find one that is full of them!
I’m a facebook fan!
Your tostadas look amazing ~ so fresh and flavorful!!
Wow! That salad looks amazing.
I am so thrilled I found your site via Helene at Tartlette. I became a facebook friend immediately
Congratulations on all the wonderful things coming your way. Thank you for the giveaway!
I just became a fan on Facebook. I’d love to win the cookbook; I’ve seen several episodes of Christina’s show and it is wonderful (I’ve always liked her though!)
Yum!! I never can resist a new cookbook…great giveaway! Thanks!
I’m a FB fan!
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