Summer isn't officially here, but I feel like it has already made it's way to Texas! Blazing hot days have me craving all of the light dishes I can get my hands on! Fresh salads, fruits, and smoothies are on repeat around our house lately because the thought of turning my oven on just sounds like a bad idea! I love making recipes that I can have on hand to eat on throughout the week that are ready to go in the fridge for easy and healthy lunches! My peach and fennel chicken salad is my new favorite lunch that makes for a great sandwich or lettuce wrap any day of the week!
Can someone please explain to me how it is almost July and how I am going to have a 9 month old baby? Where has the time gone? This year is flying by entirely too fast for me and I need it to slow down. We've had a lot going on the past month with Parks having surgery among other things and one thing that has been a lifesaver for me is easy dinners! I have been making lots of 30 minute meals lately because I just don't have time for much else! I am sure you can relate with kids home from school, vacations, and all of the other busyness that comes with summer. The days are disappearing and dinner time rolls around without any warning leaving your hungry family staring at you wondering what will be on the menu for the night. My Greek chicken pasta salad is going to be one of your new favorite easy meals that will fill up your "people" while keeping it somewhat healthy at the same time!
There's only a month left of summer and there is a little part of me that is panicking. What will I do without my favorite fruits like berries, peaches, melons, and figs? I am just not sure I am ready to give them up. I mean I love apples and grapes, but they don't speak to my soul in the way that summer fruits do. I am however ready for a relief in the heat and all things pumpkin and cozy, but until then you can find me making dishes like my fig and melon salad with prosciutto and savoring the last days of the their season.
It's still raining. Yeah, we are on week two of dreary weather and this gal is overrr it. The backyard is muddy, I have to force myself to be productive, and the only thing that sounds good is a nap and foods that I shouldn't be eating. So in an effort to brighten up this Tuesday I made a colorful and healthy salad that will hopefully turn my rainy day blues around and will keep me full of energy all week long! My apricot, arugula, and quinoa salad with a cumin vinaigrette is just the salad to do the trick! It's gorgeous, full of flavor, and so good for you too!
Quinoa has been around for a while now, and if you aren't using it yet, today is the day to start. It's packed with protein, minerals, and vitamins and is definitely a grain that should be added into your diet! Perfect as a side, or mixed into a salad, I love it just about any way I can get it!
Who watched the Super Bowl last night? I will be honest...I watched a few commercials, the halftime show, and the last two minutes of the game while I was secretly just waiting on the Blacklist to come on. I'll tell you what I did do though, I ate a big bowl of chili piled high with all the fixings, drank a few beers, and then possibly ate some ice cream to top off the night. I'm thinking I should eat lots of salad and drink lots of water today to balance out my Sunday Funday...and I am guessing a few of you might be feeling the same way this morning. My winter Asian Kale Salad is a bowl full of amazing ingredients that are good for your body and the best part is, it tastes really great too!
Before I go into why you need to make this salad, what was your favorite commercial last night? I have three. My favorite funny commercial was the Dorito commercial with the guy on the airplane...because we've all been there on a plane right? My favorite inspiring commercial was the Always #likeagirl commercial. I had seen it before online, but I loved that so many girls and women are getting such a powerful message...girl power! And then my favorite "aww" commercial was obviously the Budweiser commercial...I mean how cute was that puppy?
Now that we have that covered, back to why you need to make this salad...
