Chicken Panini and Spinach Orange Salad
by ....RaeDi
It been a long month so to speak, it is time to try to have a normal day in and day out life again. As normal as can be at the present time… I have not been eating right and my body is telling me that I need something that is fresh, crunchy, something with a little zing to it… something a little different that we have not had in some time.
T went to the market yesterday and stocked up on all kinds of fresh fruit and veggies. Produce is something that I have always been very keen on. As a child and even as an adult I have been known to eat right out of the garden. I love fresh produce, the fresher the better! We had a wonderful roasted chicken the other night and then had a nice cob salad but still have a little left. We need to think of something that can use the last of the left over’s and still be enjoyed… thank goodness T does not mind having the same thing several days in a row.
We neither one felt like cooking and wanted something easy, quick and with little clean up. But we were both ready for something that would left us up so to speak. I told him I would do dinner; he has been so good to me the last few weeks. Not one complaint out of his mouth and making sure I have everything I would need and more.
I decided to make us a Chicken Panini… spinach, sliced chicken, some cranberry relish… nothing fancy just a simple sandwich.
Then I thought a Spinach Orange salad would be really good with… I had everything I needed… everything was so fresh it would be perfect. The salad I decided to mix some romaine hearts and spinach together and throw in some red onion, cherry tomatoes, orange slices, pistachios, to bad T forgot to get an avocado… it will not be missed. With the Orange Salad Dressing I make it will be perfect. It has lots of zing that we need to help left our spirits… it would put it out of the park that is for sure. Late this evening after dinner I was trying to get caught up on my blogs and commenting and found that someone had the same thing in mind… a different version than mine but it sure looks look too! Check it our at Chef in disguise, her looks incredible!
Orange Salad Dressing
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
- ½ teaspoon Lemon Pepper… can use fresh ground black pepper too
- Sea Salt to taste
- 1 Heaping Tablespoon French Grain Mustard
- Shredded Apple Smoked Gruyère Cheese for topping (not mixed in dressing)
Put everything into a jam jar (or such) and put the lid on tight (that is important… I know) and give it a really good shake.
The salad did not let us down and the panini’s were perfect. Everything united together to make one spectacular dinner. We were both pleasingly surprised. T said I could cook for him anytime….
‘Ninnie being Ninnie’ Things have not been normal around here and animals do pick up on when you are sick or down and such. She has followed me around like a dog and wants to make me happy, she has even been sleeping at my feet at night, I think she thinks she has done something wrong… we all know better! Today she got lots of love and was so happy until the high winds started and then rain was added to the mix… she decided to sleep through it all. She is not a happy camper when the weather does not cooperate and she cannot go in and out a gazillion times! Look at her wrapped up in her own little goodness!
RaeDi at Hummingbird Hollow 
Great post! And your photos are beautiful. Stop by and say hi 🙂
Thank you Christina for your kind words and invitation!
That must be so fresh and delicious – really refreshing. Cute cat too.
Hello again, nice to see you! Thank you for stopping by and it is refreshing you will have to give it a go!
Oh yum. The salad looks absolutely fantastic; I will definitely try out the recipe some time! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Do try, it is delicious it wakes up the taste buds.
I know it´s hard to try to resume “normality” because life just isn´t the same – but it´s a new and different kind of normality. I love what you did here for T, and am very inspired by the Spinach and Orange salad as we are in full swing with orange season here in the south of Spain. Keep taking care of each other, eating well and taking life one day at a time xx
Thank you Tonya, Your kind words mean a lot! I have so much to be blessed about and one of those is T and one Ninnie. Mom is not far off… she lives in my heart! Now people may think I am crazy and that I am talking to myself, but we know different!
Not crazy at all!
I love the spinach and the pistachio and the dressing! I love it all and I can’t wait to try it your way.
Love the cat picture 🙂
Oh… that means so much to me! I am going to do your variable too! It is amazing what we can each come up with! Ninnie is being Ninnie!
Absolutely delicious – and the cat picture is great.
It was! Ninnie being Ninnie is easy… if I have camera in hand!
That’s a delicious looking salad. And I love your panini too. What a great meal. I love all the colours you’ve combined in your two dishes.
Thank you for your kind words, the dish was very delicious and refreshing too! Thank you for coming by!
Thanks for popping by my blog. I too didn’t feel like cooking last and made a Mexican style paninni, a casadia ;0) Love the pic of your cat, I sometimes post pics of mine, they are part of the family and always about in the kitchen.
I am so glad that your name was peasepudding it got my attention! I would love to know how to make a Mexican style Panini! On Saturdays it usually is some type of sandwich and a salad or soup, it one day that we both love. Ninnie our Pixie Bob is always doing something that catches my attention and I take pictures of her! She is very photogenic, it me and the camera that need to learn to capture! So glad that you could come by!