Salads Archives - Butcher Boy

Recipes for a Picnic-Perfect Memorial Day

Memorial Day is almost here. It’s a time to of thanks and remembrance of those who gave their lives to serve our great country. One of the things we find beautiful about the holiday is that it’s so often celebrated with our communities, and the thing that always brings people together: good food.

As we enjoy the sunshine and long weekend, we share this food with our families and friends. That’s why we carry hotdogs, pre-made hamburgers, and sliders for your grill, as well as a variety of salads and sides ready for you in-store. Complete your picnic and spruce up your sliders with these memorable recipes:

1) The Best Ever Homemade Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing

You simply cannot have a barbecue without cool, creamy, tangy blue cheese dressing. Whether drizzled on a salad, or in a bowl for dipping pleasure, this chunky dressing from Domestic Superhero will have guests clamoring for more. Domestic Superhero recommends crumbling the blue cheese yourself, and letting the dressing sit in the fridge for four hours for optimal deliciousness.

2) Blueberry Broccoli Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Ranch

This unique salad from Peas and Crayons may look straight out of a gourmet bistro, but it is easily thrown together from ingredients already found in your fridge. Ripe avocado, blueberries, baby spinach, chopped broccoli, and crumbled feta make up the main part of the salad, with dried cranberries and sunflower seeds sprinkled through-out, creating little flavor pops. Make your own dressing with the included poppy seed ranch recipe.

3) Easy Potato Salad with Eggs

Melanie Cooks‘s potato salad has a special secret ingredient: sweet pickle relish. The depth of flavor the relish and tangy mustard brings to the creamy dressing will have everyone craving seconds. Use red or yellow potatoes, as the sturdy starch and thin skin makes the best salad possible. Sprinkle paprika on top for a dash of color and extra flavor.

4) Mediterranean Pasta Salad

There’s nothing better than a good pasta salad. Whip up Gimmie Some Oven‘s delightful, light Mediterranean Pasta Salad to pass around your picnic table. Grab your favorite type of pasta and mix with kalamata olives, cucumbers, feta cheese, tomatoes, and red onion. Toss in the zesty lemon-vinaigrette to complete this guaranteed crowd-pleaser of a dish.

Slider Topping Recipes:

1) Bourbon Burgers

As drool-worthy as ketchup and lettuce are, sometimes it’s good to mix it up with your toppings. Call Me PMC‘s cheddar, caramelized onions, bacon, and bourbon-spiked barbecue sauce burger will have your family licking their lips and fingers. If your party is alcohol-free, use the slow cooker recipe for the sauce instead.

2) Smoky Avocado Burgers with Pineapple Pepper Relish

Smoky Avocado Burger with Pineapple Pepper Relish — via Joyful Healthy Eats

Who knew avocado and pineapple would pair so well? Mouthwateringly juicy, this colorful burger recipe from Joyful Healthy Eats is creamy and spicy from the chipotle pepper mayo sauce. Blend the spices together to make a spicy rub for the patty, then grill to your liking. Mix up the pineapple pepper relish, and mash up the avocado with lime juice and garlic powder. This burger is a meal in itself, so don’t be surprised if your guests neglect the sides.

3) Smoky Avocado Burgers with Pineapple Pepper Relish

Blue Cheese and fried onion burgers — via
Jo Cooks

Jo Cooks considers her crispy fried onions burger a happy accident. S/he was aiming for caramelized onions, but when they were left in the pan a little too long, they became crispy, and a new burger was born. With spicy mustard, blue cheese slices, tomatoes, and baby arugula, you’ll be silently thanking Jo’s absentmindedness when eating this beautifully topped burger.

Happy Memorial Day from Butcher Boy, and thanks to all those who serve!

Want more Memorial Day ideas?

Stop by our store in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

Perfect Meals for Mother’s Day

Next week is devoted to celebrating mom. We owe many things to mothers, and they deserve more than just one day to honor them. On this special holiday, you want to show your mother, grandmother, or mother-of-your-children how much you care. That’s why we offer a selection of beautiful flowers, cards, and chocolates to surprise her.

Another great way to show your love is through food. A delicious quiche or a refreshing artisan salad is sure to thrill the matriarch in your life. Pick up one of our fantastic prepared salads, or create your own quiche from the options listed on our catering menu. If you’re looking to impress by cooking at home, here are some terrific recipes that are sure to take her breath away.

Salad recipes:

1) Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Chicken

Strawberry and Avocado Spinach Salad — via Foodie Crush

Who says a salad can’t be hearty? This palate-pleasing dish from Foodie Crush is just right for Mother’s Day lunch or dinner. A tantalizing combination of spinach, sweet strawberries, creamy avocado, tender chicken, and mellow white balsamic dressing will be the high point of her pampered day. Top the salad with smoothly sliced almonds and feta, and pair with her favorite wine. This wine guide will help you select the perfect varietal to complement her meal.

2) Cobb Salad

Mom has earned a great meal, and Self-Proclaimed Foodie promises to deliver just that with her “perfect” cobb salad. The recipe recommends cooking the chicken in a slow cooker for optimal moistness, then shredding the meat for the salad. Crumbled blue cheese, hard boiled egg, avocados, cherry tomatoes, bacon, and the chicken are added to a bed of romaine and red leaf lettuce. Then, buttermilk blue cheese dressing is drizzled on top as a grand finish. This recipe comes with bonus instructions on how to make the blue cheese dressing at home, if you’re feeling ambitious.

3) Arugula Skirt Steak Salad with Caramelized Pears, Pecans, and Gorgonzola

Dad isn’t the only one who loves steak. Spicy arugula serves as the base of Baker by Nature‘s bold and colorful skirt steak salad. First the steak sizzles in a large skillet for 5 minutes. The meat is left to rest while the pears (and later, the pecans) are caramelized in butter and brown sugar. The steak is then arranged on the arugula and covered with the pears, pecans, and gorgonzola. Lightly dress with vinaigrette and add some after-dinner chocolate on the side.

Quiche recipes:

1) Chicken, Cheddar, and Black Bean Quiche

Chicken Cheddar Black Bean Quiche — via Cooking Bride

This smoked cheddar and black bean quiche from Cooking Bride is a unique spin on the savory tart, and will stand out from the buttered toast breakfast-in-bed of yesteryear. The crust of the pie is filled with the beans and baked for 12-14 minutes. The beans are then removed, the crust is baked for 8-10 more minutes and set aside to cool. The cheddar, chicken, beans, and other ingredients are combined and poured into the cooked shells. Bake your quiche until the tops are slightly browned. Serve with a big smile and a heart full of love.

2) Meat Lovers’ Quiche

Mom’s got a long day of pampering ahead of her. Fuel her up at breakfast with this meat-and-cheese-filled flaky quiche from Barbara Bakes. Bacon, ham, and ground sausage are added to a par-baked pie crust filled with well-beaten eggs, milk, salt, and pepper. Then sprinkle some serious amounts of cheese evenly throughout the pie. The quiche’s center will be set after baking for 20 minutes. Grab mom’s favorite coffee cup and set up the bed tray to give her the full-service experience she deserves.

3) Spinach and Bacon Hash Brown Quiche

Grandbaby Cakes gives the classic quiche recipe a delicious twist with the addition of a tender hash brown crust. Not only does this spinach and bacon pie bake up beautifully, its presentation on the plate will live in her Mother’s Day memories for years to come. The hash browns are cooked until golden brown, then formed into a crust in a pie plate while bacon crisps in a pan nearby. The smooth egg custard is mixed up and poured into the hash brown crust along with spinach, cheeses, and tomatoes. Garnish with cherry tomatoes on top and rose petals on the side for that extra special touch.

Happy Mother’s Day from Butcher Boy Market!

Want more Mother’s Day ideas?

Stop by our store in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

Romantic Valentine’s Day Menu

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and we want yours to go smoothly. So here at Butcher Boy we have chocolate dipped strawberries for something sweet, flowers for something beautiful, and meats for you to make the perfect romantic meal for someone special.

A deliciously cooked dinner is a great way to show your love, so try out one of these recipes as part of your tender loving care.

1) Prosciutto Crostini with Burrata and Lemon Honey Drizzle

The Charming Detroiter’s prosciutto crostini has everything we look for in an appetizer. It’s loaded with flavor, easy to make, and elegant. Salty prosciutto is offset by the addition of honey, and the cheese provides a luscious creaminess that ties everything together.

2) Pan Seared Filet Mignon with Garlic Herb Butter

Filet mignon is is the ideal cut of beef for a special occasion like Valentine’s Day. This main course, courtesy of Kitchen Swagger, is cooked in a hot cast iron skillet and just calls for a few additional ingredients: butter, rosemary, and tarragon. Best of all, it takes just 20 minutes to prepare from start to finish. Check out this wine pairing guide to find the perfect spirit to complement your steak.

3) Rack of Lamb with Spicy Fennel Rub

rack-of-lamb-recipe — via Fearless Fresh

Is your sweetheart not a steak-lover? Spice it up with this fiery fennel rub on rack of lamb from Fearless Fresh. Re-ignite your passions with just the right amount of heat from chili and black pepper. The prep time says 15 minutes, but we promise this recipe will taste like it took hours to make.

4) Parmesan-Herb Roasted Potatoes

No dinner would be complete without a starch, such as potatoes. Cooking Classy’s version uses Parmesan, rosemary, and parsley. These ingredients are tossed with the spuds and olive oil before roasting in the oven. You know they are ready to be taken out when the skin is crispy and a deep golden color sets in.

5) Killer Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing

spinach-salad-I-howsweeteats — via How Sweet It Is

Bacon makes everything better, especially salads. This side was created by How Sweet It Is and is the embodiment of comfort food kicked up a notch. Prep everything the night before, such as cutting the onions and hard boiling the eggs, and dress the salad right before serving.

6) Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glaze

At the end of a fabulous meal, there’s nothing more satisfying than topping it off with an incredible dessert. This flourless chocolate cake comes to us from Fine Cooking and is the epitome of indulgence. The key here is to use high-quality bittersweet chocolate. The better the chocolate, the richer the flavor.

Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Butcher Boy!

Want more romantic menu ideas?

Visit us in North Andover. We’re always here to answer your questions.

5 Surprising Foods That Are Amazing on the Grill

As butchers, we love a good burger, steak, or sausage. But once
you’ve nailed these grilling staples, we encourage you to get experimental.

Grills bring intense, smoky flavors to everything they cook. You’d be surprised by how many dishes you can make on them. It’s summer. Wouldn’t you rather cook outside?

1) Watermelon

Cilantro Lime Grilled Watermelon — Via The Stay At Home Chef

Grilling watermelon brings out surprising, versatile flavors that can be used in both savory side dishes and desserts. This recipe for cilantro-lime grilled watermelon by The Stay At Home Chef is simple, innovative, and pretty enough to post on your Facebook page.

2) Meatloaf

People think of meatloaf as a winter food, but this grilled recipe by The Meatwave begs to differ. You do need a wooden grilling plank to make it, but the rich, smoky flavors will be well worth the investment.

3) Avocado

Grilled-Avocados-with-Herbs — Via Chimera Obsura

When it comes to avocados, you know you’re always in to have a good time. This grilled avocado and lemon combo from Chimera Obsura puts an interesting twist on this superfood favorite. Top with herbs, nuts, and tomatoes and you are ready to feast.

4) Bacon

bonappetit_the-ba-summer-grilling-manual-grilled-bacon — Via Bon Appetit

Bacon is delicious in any context, and the grill is no exception. Just be sure to thread your slabs onto skewers so they don’t fall into the fire. Bon Appetit’s video on grilling bacon is a great tutorial for first timers. Give their ginger-scallion topping a try, too.

5) Caesar Salad

Grilled-Caesar-landscape — Via A Whole New Twist

Gently charred romaine develops complex, earthy flavors you won’t find in a raw salad. Check out A Whole New Twist’s grilled caesar salad. The recipe is great on its own — but for a little protein, throw some chicken or salmon on the grill, too. We’re butchers. We had to say it.

Want more inspiration?

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