Most Yummy Weekend Glow Kale Salad

I always try to give credit where credit is due. For this post all the credit goes to the Oh She Glows blogger, Angela Liddon. And my friend, Jenn. But here's the full story:

I went to a first birthday party celebration. The food line consisted of all the delicious goodness you would expect at a local Hawaiian pāʻina, mostly things I don't need to consume (namely fat...I got more than I already need). But I was quickly directed to another table, off to the side, that was for the nutritarians at the party (and there were several). It was stock full of big salads. One of them (the one that I kept going back for over and over) had what I was told was the Oh She Glows Weekend Glow Kale Salad. OMG. Whoa. Wowza. Was it good. I could not stop. It had a million different veggies and fruits in it. Or so it seemed. And all chopped in bite sized pieces. I so do not like having to use a knife with my salad.

As soon as I could, I made some at home. Only thing is I only followed the dressing recipe. Whatever went into the salad part was what I had on hand at home: chard, peppers, beets, carrots, garbanzo beans, corn and cherry tomatoes. Any veggies will do. Raisins or some sort of fruits cut small are a must. And a nut or two Maybe some seeds. I used pecans. Trust me when I say the dressing recipe is forgiving because I know I didn't have enough lemon OR tahini. And I only added half the oil. But I did add oil. Next time I'll try it without.

Click on Angela's link here to get the full recipe.

Dressing in the food processor.

I poured the dressing on and mixed and THEN put the beets on top. I didn't want pink chard. That's just wrong.

Close up view of goodness.

Don't you just love beet lips on my babe magnet?

A nutritarian baby!

Breakfast in a Jar

I first posted about Salads in a Jar back in January. I thought it was the greatest thing since fried rice. And since then I have been putting all sorts of things in my mason jars, including dried beans, nuts and seeds (though I tend to keep the jarred nuts in the freezer because unless I vacuum seal them they tend to go stale sooner than I eat them). When I cut up fruit (cantaloupe just yesterday) I will store a jar full in the fridge and take it "to go" as a snack. I never have to worry that the lid will pop off (which I do with my plastic containers) and they are oh so easy to clean, especially if I have a plastic lid on them.

My latest favorite is now my Breakfast in a Jar. During the winter my mainstay for breakfast is usually steel cut oats. Nice and warm. Topped with all sorts of goodness. But now in the summer, I am looking for something a bit more refreshing. I have found it with oats in a jar, but this time it's with rolled oats. Good ole fashioned Quaker Oats. Not the quick ones. For my entire life I have only eaten raw rolled oats found in that familiar paper canister or in your nearest health food's bins. I never even knew that most people cooked them till I was in my 30s. I love raw oats. Cheap and full of yumminess. But when you let them sit in milk overnight, they turn nice and soft like they were cooked and then cooled off. But better.

Get a jar of your choice (enough for just you). Fill it halfway with raw oats. Add any fixings. THis may include but is not limited to: raisins, cranberries, goji berries, nuts, chia seeds, bananas. If you need to sweeten it, add a bit of honey. To me, the fruity additions make it PLENTY sweet enough. If you're doing this for your kids they might like the added sweetness that honey or brown sugar gives. You might try adding cocoa powder and/or vanilla extract. Fill the jar with a non dairy milk. Let it sit in the fridge overnight. I kid you not. I am in love with this easy breakfast treat. I grab it out of the fridge, throw it in my brand new pink purse (yup, not afraid at all that it might spill in there) and head to work with it because who has time to eat at work. I have even had my granddaughter eat hers on the way to school. In the carseat. Worked great. Give it a go. Try different additions. If you add fruits before its overnight sit, it'll sweeten it all up though you could add them in the morning. I tend to add the nuts in the morning. Canteloupe works well. Even pineapple. But here's an added tip: cut up any fresh fruit you add into small pieces, about the size of an M&M. Makes it even better.

The bigger ones are for me and hubby, smaller ones for kids. See the mangoes?

I love these plastic lids that I bought from a hardware store. Clean up is a lot easier.

This one has mango, goji berries, nuts and bananas.

Seriously good stuff