Hines-Sight Blog

The Perfect Salad for Summer Lunches ( A no-mayo recipe)

2026-05-13T06:40:20.802-04:00

Last week, I made lunch for a friend. My friend is not Southern, and she does not like mayo, deli meat, or eggs. I'm sure there are other things on her list, but when you don't like mayo, it wipes out a lot of traditional Southern lunch dishes. You know, here in the South, we like our pimento cheese, egg salad, chicken salad, pasta salad, and tuna salad. Check any Southern cookbook, and the first ingredient you find for a classic, Southern luncheon is mayo, preferably Duke's.

So I served a Bibb salad with fresh NC produce and a drizzle of Italian dressing.

My friend loved it.

This recipe is so simple, refreshing, and easy.

I may be making it all summer

Summer Italian Salad

15 small fresh mushrooms, cut
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 large English cucumber, sliced
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
1 bunch of green onions, sliced
Butter lettuce mixture
Freshly ground pepper
Grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup of chilled Italian dressing.

Combine vegetables in a bowl. Mix with dressing. Serve salad on lettuce-lined plates. Sprinkle with pepper and cheese.

Easy Heart Healthy Dishes with Pecans

2026-05-12T06:21:00.000-04:00

Whether you say pee-can or peh-kahn, this tree-bearing nut is a top agricultural commodity for North Carolina. It ranks in the top 10 in the United States for pecan production, and farmers produce three to five million pecans annually. Georgia is number one in the U.S., and Albany, Georgia, is the Pecan Capital of the U.S., with almost 600,000 pecan trees. Pecan history facts go back to the 16th century. While most of us enjoy pecans during the holidays, the nut is available year-round and makes a great, healthy snack.

Pecans are rich in copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and vitamin E. The tree nut boasts 14 vitamins and minerals in one serving. It also provides a good source of protein. I am constantly searching for recipe ideas on my Pinterest Account, especially my lower-carb board. The nut is certified as a heart-healthy food by the American Heart Association and has been linked to cholesterol reduction.

Most people tend to think about pecans more in the winter, and they're overlooked the rest of the year unless they're in a Planters Nut mix, which you may snack on when you open your pantry. Grocery stores display pecans front and center around Thanksgiving and Christmas for pecan pies and sweet potato casseroles. Still, typically, there is little publicity around them the rest of the year.

Even though I have a great holiday recipe using pecans for a sweet potato soufflé, I thought it would be fun to showcase a few recipes that don't remind us of the holidays. For lunch the other day, I used pecans as a salad topping. I tossed mixed greens, tuna, and avocado together and added some pecans for a little crunch. Have fun using pecans as a salad topping by combining your own ingredients.

Here are some other healthy recipes with pecans to add to your dinner rotation. The National Pecan Shellers Association has a fabulous free cookbook on its website, compiled for its 75th Anniversary. There are some great pecan recipes in this free cookbook you can download.

5 Other Recipes With Pecans You Must Try that are Heart-Healthy

Pasta Tossed with Pecans

Toasted pecans with zucchini, Asiago cheese, basil, and pasta make a simple weeknight meal. This is delicious. You can use any pasta of your choosing.

Banana-Pecan Smoothie

Pecans add great flavor to this power-protein smoothie with vanilla yogurt as a base. For even more protein, use vanilla-flavored Greek yogurt.

Stuffed Eggplant with Pecans, Sundried Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese

I love eggplant and am always looking for new ways to use it. This recipe looks easy, quick, and delicious. Pecans are part of the stuffing for the roasted eggplant.

Paula Deen's Pecan Chicken Salad with Pecans

You're either a fan of grapes and pecans in your chicken salad or not. Personally, I love the two flavors mixed in for the crunch in place of traditional celery. Paula adds sour cream to this recipe to enhance its uniqueness. Great on a croissant.

Pecan Crusted Salmon

If you do a Google search for pecan-crusted fish, then you can use pecan breading for most any type of fish. I like pecans with salmon. I chose this dish for ease. No need to get out a processor, and using mayonnaise as a base helps the crust stick to the fish when baking. No need for the cucumber dill sauce unless you want to. I skip it because my kids won't eat it. Not a mayo fan? You may like this recipe with Dijon mustard instead. You can also use pecans for all types of fish.

Disney Drinks You Must Try

2026-05-08T10:39:00.001-04:00

I recently returned from 11 days at Walt Disney World for the sole purpose of all-star cheerleading. Yes, eleven days is a long time. Would I stay 11 days in a row again? Probably not if I can help it, but this stay was unavoidable because my daughter was on a Worlds Team, an International Summit Team, and Junior Coached a Regular Summit team. But we're not writing to talk about cheer, but rather two mocktails that I had while at resorts that I enjoyed immensely. So much so that I wanted to share them with you.

"SO MANY WISHES" MOCKTAIL at OUTER RIM BAR in WDW CONTEMPORARY RESORT

During the day, I am constantly seeking out unsweetened tea. The Outer Rim Bar in the Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World did not serve unsweetened tea. At 2 pm, I didn't want a cocktail, so the bartender suggested I look over the mocktails rather than a soda. I was the only customer in the place, and so glad I took his advice, I ordered the "So Many Wishes" mocktail. I loved it so much, I drank two. As I am at home writing today, I wish I could order it here in Raleigh. It hit the spot for my unsweetened tea fix, but offered so much more flavor.

So Many Wishes

Pomegranate Green Tea, Hibiscus, Lemon, and a dash of Star Dust. Star Dust is edible glitter that gives the drink a shimmer without affecting taste. This drink was so refreshing for a hot Orlando day, and would be awesome this summer. I'm fairly certain the Hibiscus was a tea syrup, which I could make at home if I wanted to try making my own.

"AGAVE GARDEN" ZERO-PROOF COCKTAIL at RIVER ROOST in WDW PORT ORLEANS RIVERSIDE

I spent one night at Disney's Port Orleans Riverside in between cheer comps because I wanted to experience it. Before dinner at Boatwright's Dining Hall, I stopped in River Roost to have a mocktail while waiting for my friend to have dinner with me.

Agave Garden

Lyre’s Agave Non-Alcoholic Spirit, Cold-pressed Lime Juice, Passion Fruit-Papaya Green Tea, and Cucumber

I don't actively seek out mocktails when I travel, but I don't always want an alcoholic beverage either so it's nice to have choices. The hospitality industry has come a long way in offering non-alcoholic cocktails to its guests. It's a trend here to stay, especially for the health-conscious, and I appreciate it. For me, it's about the experience of having something in a pretty glass that has a great taste; not drinking alcohol.

I am excited to learn about the Lyre brand. This summer, I plan to try the gin alternative for some non-alcoholic gin and tonic mocktails. Simple, but a classic drink to sip on while cooking dinner. I love the taste.

I plan to try my own version's at home and while share the results with you on Instagram.