If 2014 taught us anything, it’s that EVERYTHING looks better in a mason jar. From sweet sensations to savory concoctions, the mason jar craze has generated countless creations within the new “contained-cuisine” scene.
So what’s so appetizing about this tasty trend? For starters, we’ve found that these on-the-go mason-jar-munchies are crazy convenient and help a lot with keeping to a healthy diet. Portion control is a must, and these jars really do the trick when it comes to perfect portions. Another advantage is that these jars make for a superb food storage solution (who knew?), so they’re great for planning your meals out ahead of time: stuff these jars with your preferred foodstuff, throw it in the fridge, and you’ll be set for lunch for the whole week.
So if you’re a fan of the simple (yet scrumptious) things in life, we highly recommend trying out this recipe for a Californian take on the classic Caprese salad.
Cali Caprese (makes 5 servings)
Ingredients:
5 quart size wide mouth mason jars
5 cups chopped kale
4 cups of sun-dried tomatoes, in strips
1 cup crumbled goat cheese
1/2 cup pitted mission olives, whole or sliced
1/2 cup red onion, sliced or chopped
1/2 cup yellow bell pepper, sliced or chopped
1/2 cup marinated artichoke heart, sliced or quartered
1 cup roasted pecans
1 whole avocado
half a lemon
2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
Directions: Combine olive oil & balsamic vinegar in a separate mixing bowl and stir. Add sun-dried tomatoes to the bottom of each jar and top off with olive oil/balsamic vinegar to create the dressing (IMPORTANT: dressing must be at the bottom to keep salad fresh). On top of the dressing, layer the kale, onion, bell pepper, artichoke hearts, avocados (be sure to squeeze lots of lemon juice over avocados to help preserve color), olives, goat cheese, and pecans. Seal jars with caps and refrigerate.
When ready to eat, simply turn the jars over to let the dressing do its work, and empty the contents into your preferred serving dish (salad will magically come out, perfectly mixed).
That is all. Bon Appétit.
