Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is packed with serious flavor and is anything but forgettable. There’s nothing worse than pasta salad that has some dressing but doesn’t actually taste like anything. This has lots of lemon and mustard. There are a bunch of herbs and pancetta too.

The Three Bite Rule - Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

These are some starting points but customize as you like!

Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad
Ingredients:

1/2 pound of pasta
1 cup raw pancetta
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup olive oil
juice of ~1/2 lemon
lemon zest
1-2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt & pepper
herbs – chives, basil, and mint.

Directions:
Boil the pasta and let cool. Toss with a drizzle of olive oil as it is cooling so it doesn’t stick together.
Pan fry the pancetta and drain.
Mix up the mayo, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, dijon, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt & pepper to taste. Taste it and see substitutions below if it is too strong.

The Three Bite Rule - Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

When the pasta is fully cool (don’t rush it, let it truly cool) mix in the dressing and the pancetta.

The Three Bite Rule - Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

Refrigerate until serving and then top with herbs.
Enjoy!

The Three Bite Rule - Lemon Dijon Pasta Salad

This was a really great lunch and it packs well. Swapping dijon with honey mustard would mellow it out a bit or adding something sweet – like a teaspoon of honey or sweet relish or maple syrup would make it a bit more mild and less lemon.

Chopped BLT Sandwiches

This chopped and dressed format of a BLT is pure bliss – you get the best bite every time! A sub roll would better contain the little pieces but these small brioche ones were calling to me as the right size – smaller than a traditional one, bigger than a slider…the perfect lunch size I tell you. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Chopped BLT Sandwiches
Ingredients: (for 1-2 sandwiches)

4 strips of bacon (or rough equivalent of pancetta, prosciutto, etc)
1-2 cups lettuce
1/2 tomato
1/2 avocado
cheese (optional)
pickles (optional)
1-2 teaspoons mayo
1 teaspoon oil & red wine vinegar (or Italian dressing)
2 buns or rolls

Directions:
Chop then pan-fry the bacon (or other B replacement of the BLT). Drain and discard the drippings. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Chop the lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, and cheese/pickles/anything else you’re adding. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Mix in mayo and oil and vinegar or dressing and toss well. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Serve on the rolls and spread more avocado on them or toast them, or serve them as they are. 
Enjoy! 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

Italian ones will be up next! Or maybe caprese! Or chicken caesar! I love that this format would easily use leftovers or be a good way to not need a whole chicken piece per person or whatever. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chopped BLT Sandwich

These would be great on-the-go with the mixture in a container and spooned into rolls when serving. I picture a sunny day when we head to the pool or beach and bring along this instant lunch/dinner! Ok, off to the pool.

June 2023 Recap

Making it to July always feels like such a win. Just surviving June having my end of the fiscal year, all. the. elementary school festivities., and everything else is definitely survival mode. July 1 is so so close! We wisened up and chose this week for camp – I couldn’t have the busiest week of work and be useful in decisions for where/when/what he’d do otherwise.

I kicked off the month with a girls weekend that was everything I needed. It was perfect to set up this full month. We celebrated Mr J’s birthday and father’s day and fit in lots of very spring-feeling things.

In the kitchen, I was most psyched about this Chicken Caesar Salad Burger! It is such a winner.

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken Caesar Salad Burgers

I also made a cocktail – Pineapple Mojitos with mint, pineapple simple syrup and rum.

Pineapple Mojito - The Three Bite Rule

We had peach pecan waffles which were so so good. It was too early for fresh peaches but the canned peaches also give you that flavorful syrup to go into the waffle mix. You can thank me later.

The Three Bite Rule - Peach Pecan Waffles

The big kid:
He (and Mr J) wrapped up a fun baseball season. Nobody is more bipartisan than the parents at a playoff game who are happy to watch but also happy for the opposing team to keep having more games. He loved the end of year family picnic, field day, all the theme days, and our last day of school party. We had 35 kiddos, 20 parents, and had a great time. He loves a routine which is less of a norm in the summer, but camps are repeats this year so that’ll be good. I cannot believe 2nd grade is done. His teacher was so impressive and I love the friendships he developed.

The little one:
She’s about to start swim lessons and she seems excited! We’re ready for more sunny weekends! She had a daycare “graduation” which was adorable but also she’ll keep going all summer so it could have just been a party for the sake of a party. She seems so big now. There are more and more things she does independently and she cannot wait for kindergarten.

Goals:
Year of workwear! I added some pants that are not exciting, but necessary.
Salads or side-dishes: We had salad bar one night, does that count?
prep ahead bfasts or lunches for weekdays: I had some tomato/mozzarella/arugula sandwiches with balsamic aioli that made for a delicious but mindless-to-pack lunch.
Monthly dates: Ehh, this didn’t fit in.
Declutter/cleaning: I handed over a big bag of hand me downs that will be too warm for our always hot guy.
Workouts as a routine: Yes! I went from one to another one that has too much jump roping but I’m doing it.
What I’m reading: I read Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore and liked it for so many points of view in a family/town in Maine. Then I read Bad Mormon by Heather Gay which was pretty good – I don’t know her from Real Housewives of Salt Late City, but imagine readers would be more into it who do. I just finished The Summer Job by Lizzie Dent and was really into it. It is more wine/hotel/hospitality and less summer vibes but that’s fine with me.

Pineapple Mojito

Cheers! I made these pineapple mojitos because we always have plenty of mint and love pineapple. There are a few touches to customize these.

Pineapple Mojito

Pineapple Mojito
Ingredients: (for 1-2 cocktails)

pineapple simple syrup (make ahead: 1/2 cup sugar + 1/2 cup water)
1/2 cup pineapple
mint
1 cup pineapple juice/lemonade/tonic/soda water
1 shot white rum

Pineapple Mojito - The Three Bite Rule

Directions:
Prep and chill the simple syrup: boil the sugar and water to dissolve the sugar. Add in most of the pineapple and chill.
In a glass, muddle together the mint, pineapple from the simple syrup, and a few mint leaves.

Pineapple Mojito - The Three Bite Rule

In a cocktail shaker, shake together ice, a few mint leaves, the remaining pineapple chunks, and juice (if using tonic/soda water, add after). Pour into the glass.

Pineapple Mojito - The Three Bite Rule

Enjoy! Cheers! Top off with more ice, or a splash of juice, or a splash of water to taste.

These are sweet but refreshing from the mint. I’m excited to use the leftover pineapple simple syrup as my sweetener for ice green tea.

Pineapple Mojito - The Three Bite Rule

Chicken Caesar Salad Burgers


Happy birthday burger Mr J! We gave a caesar salad twist to a chicken burger. It was a fun one!

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken Caesar Salad Burgers

Chicken Caesar Salad Burger
Ingredients: (makes 4)
4 brioche rolls
1 pound ground chicken
1 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional)
1/4 cup tablespoons creamy caesar dressing
1/4 cup shaved parmesan
1 head of romaine washed & chopped or 1 bag of your favorite lettuce 

Directions: 
Preheat the grill (or a griddle works well for these delicate-ish patties). 

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken Caesar Salad Burgers

Mix together the ground chicken, anchovy paste, 1-2 tablespoons caesar dressing, and half of the parmesan cheese. Form into patties and generously salt and pepper each side. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken Caesar Salad Burgers

Grill to fully cooked. 
While the burger cooks, mix up lettuce, dressing, parmesan, and pepper. 
Spread the remaining caesar dressing onto the buns, then add the burger and top with the remaining parmesan and some salad and more salad on the side. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken Caesar Salad Burgers

Enjoy! 

A quick way would be to dress your burger with parm & creamy caesar dressing. If you’re skipping anchovy paste, you may want more dressing but be careful with the patties. They do get crumbly to grill on a grate. Starting them on foil might help the patties stay together enough to then flip to finish cooking on the grates. We cooked them on a griddle and they stayed together. 

The Three Bite Rule - Chicken Caesar Salad Burgers

Our littlest loved it and said it was “sooo good”. Our oldest wished for a regular burger but ate it. I have a running list of other burgers I haven’t made yet but earmark a few favorite ideas to save for these. Of course my award-winning Parisian Burger https://thethreebiterule.com/parisian-burger/ is an all-time fav.

The Historical Timeline of the Birthday Burgers:
2022 was a Bacon Jam and Parmesan Peppercorn burger was all about the toppings. 
2021 was a Waffle Breakfast Burger with ground sausage in the patty, maple aoli, and melted gouda.
2020 was a BLT burger with ground bacon IN the burger and tomato jam
2019 was a Manchego Burger with manchego, quince jam, and arugula
2018 was a Garlic Lovers Burger with garlic butter, chips, garlic aoli and white cheddar.
2017 was an Ultimate Mexican Burger with queso, guac, and beans.
2016 was a Mac & Cheese Stuffed Burger topped with bacon, onions, and tomato.
2015 was a Picnic Burger with slaw & potato sticks
2014 was a German Burger with horseradish, caramelized onions, pickles and a pretzel roll
2013 was a Vermont Burger with maple mayo, cheddar, bacon, and spinach
2012 was a Bacon Wrapped Burger – enough said
2011 was a Stuffed Burger stuffed with bacon & cheddar or bacon & blue cheese