Citrus Kale Salad
After a week of vacation and pigging out, I vowed to go on an all-salad/smoothie/greens cleanse this week. Guys, I ate a BACON donut last week for lunch. And now I am engaged to be married. Time to get serious and hit the gym. And the healthy food.
Now, I would say in the 6 months or so I have really stuck to a routine. Ever since my car accident in June, I fell off the wagon a bit. I am really eager to get more into a disciplined routine. I felt inspired (and a little guilted into) heading to the grocery store. Earlier in the week I brought home a fresh-market haul of citrus fruits, leafy greens, and some balsamic dressing to make this easy, summery, sweet salad.
So, this salad was made on day one of the salad/smoothie cleanse, and it turned out to be pretty great! I whipped up a salad inspired by Corner Bakery's Spinach Sweet Crisp salad, but without the goat cheese, green onions or raisin pecan sweet crisps. My take on the salad included grapes, oranges, strawberries, kale, spinach and walnuts with a decadent creamy balsamic dressing. I am not always into dressings (I avoid buying them because I always end up using the bottles once or twice before they get lost in the fridge). I stocked up on SO much fruit, though, that I need to munch through it this week. I'm forcing myself!
The most important thing to remember about salads is FRESHNESS. Everything you see here was fresh from the market and sliced right away. While this is ideal, it almost never happens. That's why you've got to make the most of what is in season!
This salad is really sweet, and the dressing (from Brianna's) complemented all the fruit very well. The kale and nuts added a crunch...and voila! All the components for a pretty good salad, at least in my book. I'm not one for following recipes or ingredients religiously...but here's what I used:
1 cup sliced strawberries, cut sliced grapes, 1 orange, walnuts, 1 cup spinach, 1 head kale, 2 tsp. Brianna's New American Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette, a squeeze of Acetum Blaze Balsamic Glaze
Line a bowl with freshly rinsed kale and spinach.
Slice strawberries, orange, and grapes and toss into a strainer. Rinse.
Throw in a handful of walnuts and top with Brianna's dressing; then add the Blaze Balsamic for an additional hit of balsamic tanginess!
If you're looking for some good salad inspo, check out my food for the soul pinterest board. Make sure you're not hungry, because some of the recipes on there are deadly good.