Kale Salad

Cooking:

It's been a month since I posted (and during that post I told you peeps that I suck), and I still suck.  My camera is broken and, since I've gotten used to the new camera, I haven't wanted to take pictures with my stupid camera phone.  So I've been slacking.

 

I read Andee's blog regularly and when she posted this kale salad I knew I had to try it.  Since the first time I made this salad, I've been incorporating kale into all of my salads.  I actually like it best with some spinach, red onions, tomatoes, parmesan, and a lite raspberry vinaigrette.  But I go back to this recipe regularly, too!

Reading:

With the Season 4 premier upon us (April 6!) it would be wrong of me to not include George R. R. Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series on this blog.  I am a bit of a sci-fi/fantasy geek, and these books (which I finished last summer but the H is reading now) scratch every itch I have in that genre.  Just don't get too attached to the characters.

Wearing:

T Tahari via Neiman Marcus

The H bought me this dress for Valentine's day, and I'm having it altered in preparation for a conference I'm attending next week.  I'm presenting, too, and even though I'm crazy nervous, this dress will help me look the part!

Quickie Friday: Asparagus Salad with Gorgonzola Vinaigrette

This is another recipe that I made back at Easter (oh, so long ago) but it was too delicious to leave on the kitchen floor.

(1)  Sam's Club sells THE BEST "artisinal lettuce."  I'm not kidding.
(2)  Blanched asparagus is delicious
(3)  Mixing 1 & 2 with a vinaigrette of red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and gorgonzola yields THE BEST light salad.

That is all.

Oh wait, no it's not.

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I almost forgot that this blog is about food AND shoes.  I need a vacation.

Quickie Friday: Caesar Salad

There is something deliciously simple, yet complex, about caesar salad, particularly when the dressing and croutons are made from scratch (using this recipe).

I think it goes without saying, but the F was none too thrilled when I cracked open a can of anchovies.  But the results were worth it.

The freshly-shaved parmesan was just right, too.  Salad never tasted so good . . .

It is in the spirit of salad that I bring you sneakers.

Puma via

These are my favorite sneakers, not for working out, but for everything else.  They are freakishly lightweight (and great for travel) and super comfortable.  And cute!  Let's not forget cute.  A sneaker never looked so good . . .

Quickie Friday: Grilled Veggie Salad

I have been taking the time, recently, to make a weekly stop at the produce stand near work to buy fresh veggies.  It is so worth it, I can't even begin to explain it, but this salad does a decent job of depicting my joy.

It doesn't even show off the grilled veggies to the best of its ability, but they're there.  Grilled eggplant?  Check.  Squash?  Check.  Sugar snap peas, asparagus, and tomatoes?  Check, check, annnnnnnnnnd check.  Homemade mustard vinaigrette on the side?  You're damn right.  Happy-summer-almost-fall, peeps!

Speaking of summer-almost-fall, I think these shoes would be great during this in-between season:

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Even though, here in Florida, it's still going to feel like summer for months, I'm thinking transitions.  Positive (and slightly wishful) thinking!

Quickie Friday: Chickpea and Tomato Salad

Do you ever find yourself lazing about the house (or floating about the pool) and realize that you need to eat, you need a salad, and all you have in the fridge is tomatoes, chickpeas, and mozzarella?  No?  Well I recently whipped up this salad, and it did not disappoint (or take much time away from my floating!).

 
I combined a pint and a half of cherry tomatoes (sliced in half), 10 oz. of buffalo mozzarella, cut into small cubes, one can of chickpeas (rinsed and shelled), some basil (about 30 leaves), garlic (4 cloves), salt, pepper, olive oil, and balsamic (one tablespoon each of the oil and vinegar) and that was it!  Good and good for ya (aside from the cheese, I suppose).

These are also good for me:

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Love the color-blocking and, more importantly, love the price.  Thank you, H&M, for existing (and for opening a store near me!).

Greek Quinoa Salad

Morning, peeps!  I apologize for the extreme slowdown in posts, but believe you me I'm trying to kick the cooking into high gear (on the days when I'm actually home to cook, that is) so that the blog doesn't suffer!

I had never tried quinoa, but I work with a lot of women who are in very good shape and who swear by quinoa, so I figured I should try it (you really can't go wrong with a grain that contains both fiber AND protein, seriously).

Essentials for this salad:  kalamata olives, grape tomatoes, hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, quinoa (duh), feta cheese, and I added some chicken (that I baked with Greek seasoning).  I use a cup of quinoa (cooked in 2 cups of water) and add enough of the other ingredients so that it looks like I have a little bit of everything.

When I pack this for lunch, I pack a little bit of light Greek vinaigrette, toss it well, and chow it down!  It's really filling and very delicious.  Next time I make it I'm going to add spinach, too, to give it more color (and iron).

The more I look at the B Brian Atwood shoes in stores or on blogs, the more I want a pair.

B Brian Atwood via Saks

These would be so great for both graduation AND the big day.  The dollars-per-wear just keeps making more sense . . .

Broccoli Salad

In my quest to incorporate more salads/vegetables/generally healthy foods into my diet (especially after the gorging that was done during the Food & Wine Festival), I thought I'd try making this broccoli salad.

There's not much to it:  broccoli, raisins, red onion, bacon, and a white wine vinegar/mayo vinaigrette to bring it all together.

I actually put TOO MUCH dressing on this salad, but it was tasty nonetheless, and certainly added more veggies to my day than I'm used to.

I wish I could say something enlightening about these:

Christian Louboutin via Barneys

But these shoes are called "Winter Trash."  So how could I possibly have anything more to say?  Really.

Quickie Friday: Greek Salad

Hey peeps!  Just wanted to do a quick quickie Friday before I head out for the weekend (more on that later)!  Here we have a tasty (and filling!) Greek salad. 

Chicken (grilled with a Greek seasoning), romaine, grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, and voila!  Toss it with a store-bought, light Greek dressing, and you're good to go.

Minus the goofy rhinestone jewel things, I'd also take these to go:

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I guess what I'm saying is that I just like the feathers.

Happy weekend!