Oh, there you are summer! The temperature has been like a fickle teenager in love lately – first it’s warm, then it’s cool – today, it was finally HOT! Blazing hot, actually. Which gave me a good excuse to get outdoors and exercise.
I haven’t run in a week in a half which feels like an eternity, so instead of jumping in with two feet, I dipped a couple toes in. Whenever I take some time off of exercising, I tend to go too hard too fast when I get back into it. Then I get sore, want to take a break for another couple days, etc, etc. So today I eased myself back into a schedule with a 4 miler – 2 miles walked and 2 miles ran. Given the current temps and the fact that I hadn’t run for so long – I thought it went really well!
I came home stARving…but had a plan…
A couple of weeks ago I saw an amazing article hanging in a break room at work titled, “101 Simple Salads for the Season ” written by Mark Bittman – food blogger (hello!) and writer – for the New York Times. You all know my love for salads, so my eyes almost misted at the endless (well, 101) possibilities to turn farmers-market-fresh ingredients, into some of the most delectable salad combinations I’ve ever seen. Look at the picture that accompanied the article:
Gorgeous!
I read a few of the recipes and decided right then and there that I had to navigate my way through that list – come hell or high water! Many – nay, most – of the recipes are not lettuce based, so don’t think these are your average, run of the mill, cobb salad creations either.
Each recipe, according to Mark:
- Should take around 20 minutes or less to create
- Minimize the use of hot cooking methods
- Highlight the fresh fruits, veggies and herbs that are in summer-induced abundance right now
Now, I probably won’t be making each one of these recipes but honestly – the list sounds so spectacular, that I’m willing to try and make a big dent in it!
First up: #95: Citrus CousCous Salad.
I combined 1 cup of cooked, whole wheat couscous, with the segments and juice from 2 oranges, a tablespoon of EVOO, a handful of dried cranberries, a couple tablespoons of red onion and some S&P. After mixing everything up, I spooned the salad over a bed of fresh baby spinach.
Light the candles and bring out the violins – this was so gourmet, so fresh, so re-freshing…why go any further down the list? Recipe #95 is incredible!
Made with everyday ingredients, this salad is easy to prepare, easy to assemble and would please any palate.
The bursts of juice from the orange segments are the perfect dressing for the bed of spinach.
If you guys try any recipe from Mark’s list – make it this one. You will NOT be disappointed!
In other news, you guys are amped for the PURE Bar Giveaway! I’m so glad! So glad, in fact, that I felt the need to have two PURE Bars today, wheeee!
As part of my breakfast, I had the Cherry Cashew bar.
Chewy & tart from the cherries, crunchy and buttery from the cashews. Divine!
For my after-dinner dessert I had my favorite bar…the Chocolate Brownie bar.
Seriously…seriously…are you joking with me. This bar is like the most decadent, chewy, moist and fudgy brownie that you have EVER tasted. EVER I say!
It is “order an entire box” worthy.
Which, hey – you CAN for 30% off and for $0 shipping! Head over the the PURE Bar website and type in the code: PURESUMMER to receive both discounts! You can also check out places to buy PURE Bars on the website. Go there quickly, you are missing out if you are not eating these!
Well, I felt the need to buy massive quantities of fruit this weekend and coupled with the overflow of fresh veggies I’ve gotten from various home gardens in the past week or so – I have some chopping to do tonight!
Don’t forget to enter the PURE Bar Giveaway – you’ve got until 10pm central on Wednesday night!
That salad looks amazing, couscous and cranberries with orange segments. YUM
My favorite salad lately has been spinach, romaine, kohlrabi, green peppers, sungold cherry tomatoes, and cooked ground turkey. Yum. Filling and tasty.
I’m going to take a look through that article for more ideas though.
And that Pure bar looks divine! I love raw bars.
wow that looks amazing. I wonder if I could literally work my way through every single salad for the rest of the summer… that would be like the best challenge ever!! When I get back from colorado I think I may try this
Love this salad challenge. I just love salads merely because the possibilites are endless and infinite.
Seriously, when people think of a salad as a few shred of iceburg and a meesley cherry tomato or two, they are so deprived of the vast beauty that salads can bring. I don’t think I could ever get bored with the combinations of so many different foods in one bowl.
What other meal can incorporate every single food group into one amazing bite?
Can’t wait to see more of these lovely creations.
Hope you had a great day today!
That salad is a beaut! Can’t wait to try it!!
ooh, i love citrus in salads, especially grain salads. what a great mix!
That salad is pretty much heaven right there. Just saying…
loving the salads 🙂 can’t wait to see who wins 🙂
Mark Bittman is one of my favorite cookbook authors, and I’m so happy to know that this salad book is worthwile!
I love salads, and that couscous citrus salad looks divine! Yum 🙂
That salad looks awesome!!
That couscous salad looks great! I love grain/veggie salads!
I’m a big fan of both Bitten and The Pour sections of NYTimes online – if you liked the salads article, you’ll also like the Summer Express: 101 Simple Meals article (this is one is from 2007, but I feel like I read a more recent list): http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/dining/18mini.html?scp=1&sq=Summer%20Express%20&st=cse
Thank you so much for the link – I will definitely check that out!!
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats https://iowagirleats.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/iowagirleats
Ugh. I think I changed my mind…the Chocolate Brownie purebar has totally won my heart. I’d like to sample that one! 🙂 Haha.
Your salad looks great! I have to ask, though — does your husband eat your healthy meals, too? I wish my boyfriend would be willing to eat this yummy salad, but I don’t think he’d be into it. Just curious!
Haha – yeah he usually eats whatever I put in front of him, but he’d most likely eat a peanut butter sandwhich or something right after this. He would say it wasn’t “girthy” enough for him 🙂
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats https://iowagirleats.wordpress.com http://twitter.com/iowagirleats
I saw Mark’s Simple Salads post the other week and was thinking of making one. You’re looks delicious!
I just bookmarked the link to the simple salads page; thanks a lot! 🙂
It’s so much harder for me to run in hot weather, too. I feel like…a big slug. I don’t know how some runners do it!
Yes, I saw this salad article thanks to a friend’s tweet. Loved the ideas. And couscous…yum yum! Very similar and simple to cook as Quinoa. I have a great tomato black bean quinoa recipe that I LOVE to make. Perfect light summer meal.
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Black-Bean-and-Tomato-Quinoa-238939
thanks for mentioning mark’s article- I have found new inspiration. the couscous salad looks great and i have some couscous to use up!
Thanks for sharing the article!
I kind of feel bad for those who don’t have AE dairy. It’s pretty much the best ever. 🙂
[…] 101 Simple Salad Challenge scored BIG tonight when BEN made (go husband!) #44: Tomato Basil Salad with Grilled Cheese […]