A Well-Read Tart

A Food and Book Lover’s Blog

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad (Recipe Inspired by THE CLOISTERS)

This book-inspired recipe for The Cloisters is an amalgamation of all my lunchtime favorites. We're talking Chicken Caesar Wraps with hearty pieces of white meat chicken. We're talking Caesar Salads with creamy, dreamy dressing. We're talking cool and refreshing pasta salads.  What's a girl to do when she can't decide what to have for lunch? You have it all with Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.    Why is Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad the...

Simple Tomato, Corn, and Torn Basil Salad (Recipe Inspired by OLD COUNTRY)

We're keeping it short n' sweet with this Simple Tomato, Corn, and Torn Basil Salad, Tartlets.  As you saw earlier this week, this salad was served up with my Grilled Rosemary Balsamic Steaks. This side dish is another Old Country book-inspired recipe that pays homage to cooking with fresh, homegrown ingredients.   A Simple Salad... Just like with the grilled steaks, rustic is the name of the game when it comes to making Tomato, Corn, and...

Chilled Seafood Salad (Recipe Inspired by WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING)

My herby, tangy, and refreshing Chilled Seafood Salad is the perfect dish for a light summer meal. I don't know about you, but once June rolls around, all I can think about is having an icy glass of lemonade, reading lots of books instead of working, and wishing I lived by the beach instead of in the mountains. And this year, after my adventures in Charleston where I ate ALL THE SEAFOOD, I just wasn't ready to let go of that shellfish state of...

Caprese Farro Salad (Recipe Inspired by MUSICAL CHAIRS)

The Summer of Salads continues with make-ahead marvel Caprese Farro Salad. While my Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta is a perfect appetizer for your fancy dinner party, you’ll want to haul along a container of Caprese Farro Salad to your next BBQ or neighborhood potluck. One of the things I loved about Musical Chairs was the mood that it sets: think hot, lazy summer days along the breezy Connecticut coast; guests coming and going from a...

Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta (Recipe Inspired by THE MAIDENS)

Freshen up your summer with Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta! Honestly, summers are made for salads. Mr Tart and I practically live on them during the hot, humid months. Mainly because we live in New Jersey, where summertime = tons of local, fresh produce, but it’s also because we want to spend as little time cooking over a hot stove as possible. This book-inspired recipe for The Maidens is a tribute to the “watermelon and salty Greek...

Curry Chicken Salad Sandwiches (Recipe Inspired by THE FINISHING TOUCHES)

Pinkies up, Tartlets! I'm bringing you all the fancy, afternoon tea vibes with these Curry Chicken Salad Sandwiches. The entire time I was reading The Finishing Touches, which takes place in London (a.k.a., my favorite city), I could NOT stop craving a proper British tea. It's been a few years since I've ventured across the pond *cries* so I've had to make do with afternoon teas I can find stateside, as well as create some of my own teatime...

Chickpea Shepherd’s Salad (Recipe Inspired by BEAUTIFUL BAD)

We only have a few more days until it's officially fall, so I'm squeezing in one last summery recipe with this Chickpea Shepherd's Salad. Although Beautiful Bad  was a DNF for me, it definitely delivered in one aspect: FOOD. Maddie and Joanna were often meeting up to share a meal, even though they lived in different countries, and they made sure to sample all the delicacies their local cuisines had to offer. Crisp, fresh salads with a...

Greek Chicken Orzo Salad (Recipe Inspired by CIRCE)

As I was making this Greek Chicken Orzo Salad, I realized something: for someone who doesn't really like mint, I sure am making a lot of recipes with mint these days. Mint is just so fresh tasting. It brightens up any savory dish with an unexpected zip, and it imparts a refreshing coolness to sweet desserts. Can you really blame me for over-using it this summer? Nope. I didn't think so. Spoiler alert: this Greek Chicken Orzo Salad contains...

Citrus Quinoa Salad (Recipe Inspired by NINE PERFECT STRANGERS)

One of the reasons that Tranquillum House in Nine Perfect Strangers seems so ideal for transforming your life is that guests are encouraged (forced?) to eat healthy and clean. Although I love my carbs and cream sauces, there definitely comes a point (usually right after Christmas) when I simply crave lighter meals filled with fresh, green ingredients. Tranquillum House guests have a limited diet: they aren’t allowed sugar, carbs, alcohol, or...

Key West Chicken, Avocado, and Corn Salad with Balsamic Lemon Vinaigrette

In my last post, I recommended some perfect books for summer reading. I'm now pairing that list with the perfect summer salad. Does anyone else barely cook on the stove during summer? Because that’s me. While I love firing up the oven or having a bubbling pot on the stove during the cooler months, I loath being cooped up in the kitchen during warm weather. For one thing, our Cottage kitchen is adorable but poorly ventilated, so even with the...