beauty that moves

For The Love of Green Salad

This post has been brought over from a former blog I once wrote. Enjoy!

I aim to enjoy at least one green salad everyday. Not just a little "side salad," but a huge center of the plate celebration of greens, rainbow colored veggies, and protein. Salad as the main meal, once a day. For me it is life changing. 

Right now our garden is bursting with romaine and butter crunch lettuce. What fun to go out each day and gather our mid-day meal (well, the base of it anyway). Once brought inside, the greens are washed, spun dry, and chopped. From there, our options are endless! I love to be creative when composing the daily salad, drawing from what has looked good at the market or farm that week, any leftovers that may be in the fridge (more on this in a  moment), and color variety. I'm always looking for plenty of color to ensure the greatest variety of nutrients. 

My not-so-secret weapon in creating a hearty salad is to beef it up with something interesting from the refrigerator, a scoop or two of a yummy leftover from the night before. It may sound like a strange idea at first, but stick with me here... it works.

 

Leftover ideas for topping salads:

• fried rice
• chili (the thicker the better)
• curry noodles
• stir-fry veggies
• roasted potatoes
• cooked grain such as quinoa or wheatberries
• tabouli
• pad thai
• bean/veggie burger broken up into small pieces
• falafel
• stuffed grape leaves
• baked tofu

My dressing of choice for salad is usually a simple drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. This duo works just fine in combination with any of my leftover toppings.

I tend to keep the focus more plant-based on the average day, but roasted salmon, thinly sliced venison steak, or fresh local goat cheese are all nice additions too. Those sort of things tend to fall in the normal salad topping ideas for most people, and today I'm trying to get us to really look at last night's dinner as an addition to our green salads. 

Is this something you already do? A huge salad a day with a scoop of leftovers? Please feel free to share your favorite ideas!

In addition to a scoop of yummy leftovers and a rainbow of veggies, I also like to add fresh nuts and cooked beans. Beans especially are incredibly filling for me - but don't think you can sprinkle a tablespoon on top and call it a worthwhile serving. I top my daily salad with anywhere from a half to a full cup of cooked beans... yum yum.

Today I'd like to share a recipe with you that has been popular in my classes, created to be a stand alone salad or side dish - but it also makes a wonderful green salad topping. I hope you enjoy it!

 

Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Orange Cilantro Glaze

Serves 4-6

Preheat oven to 400°F  

 

Ingredients:

• 3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (1 inch dice)
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted on the stove top

 

Glaze ingredients:

• 1/4 cup orange juice concentrate, thawed
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 fresh cilantro, chopped

 

Directions:

1. Place peeled, chopped potatoes in single layer on large, heavy baking sheet. Drizzle melted coconut oil over potatoes, toss gently with spoon or spatula to coat. Sprinkle with a bit of sea salt and black pepper. Bake for 20 minutes. 
2. Meanwhile, combine dressing ingredients in bowl and whisk together. (Or shake it all up in a screw top glass jar.)
3. Remove from the oven, sprinkle chopped garlic and turn potatoes carefully. Place back in oven for 10-20 more minutes. This will depend on the size you cut the potatoes and your oven. I like to let let them get nice and brown/caramelized. 
4. I like to serve this dish at room temperature, so cool the potatoes right on the tray for a little while. Then place them in a bowl, drizzle the glaze over, stir and serve.

 

Print - Roasted Sweet Potatoes w/ Orange Cilantro Glaze

29 :: may

 

I hope I get a chance to finish writing down a few thoughts from the day. A storm is brewing and I'm not sure if the power will stay on. I saw my first sign for native strawberries today, these are not them. We had to make a class on time so we couldn't stop. Soon.

We're planting strawberries too, but they won't produce much of anything this year.

Tomorrow morning I'll be making some more almond milk but I need to remember to skip the vanilla. Not a tasty idea when making vegan creamy sauces. 

 

Oh my the humidity yesterday and today. Storms are rolling in now to cool things off.  

But Sunday was so perfect which was great because my cousin threw a wonderful party for her mom's special birthday. I loved the portrait of Aunt Kathy that everyone could write messages on... taken in Tahoe, her favorite place on earth. 

 

My clothing is filthy these days, in the best kind of way. Garden dirt... oh, it's been wonderful. The last two hot and muggy days though have reminded me that I must return to rising early so I can work for an hour or two before the heat comes. Seeing as I've been a shady gardener for the last six years, I seem to have forgotten just how steamy it gets out there!

These garden markers are so useful, what a perfect solution. 

I have a feeling there will be an awful lot of reporting from this place over the next several months. Which really isn't too bad of a place to be.

 

I really love the days when we can all  be home to have lunch together. I'm painfully aware of how good right now is, but also that at 14 (and a half), it's fleeting. Everyday is a gift. 

The campus bookstore has the best Apple tech support I have ever received - and with the school year over it was relatively quiet and low key today. All of my questions were answered and hopefully a plan to successfully restore my seemingly missing 11,000 (plus) photo library is in place. (Don't I sound so calm??) The guy that helped me had a t-shirt that read "relax, we can fix this." Seriously, that is my kind of place.

Finding quick, on the go vegan eats was the icing on the cake! Falafel with tahini sauce and veggies for me, hummus and veggies for her. And the sweetest old man I've ever encountered made them for us. Next time I'm getting the Grape Leaves Pocket. Such yum. 

We returned home to the screen porch, cold drinks, and the promise of cooling rain. 

25 :: may

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few photos from the week. 

I can't believe how many blueberries are on our bushes, I'm so glad we went with the older ones. This weekend we'll finish building their (huge) cage because those berries are about to become super tasty for the birds and deer.

Today I'm putting the last of the "big planting" in the ground. We'll try our hand at succession crops through the season. Planting lettuce throughout the summer in the shade of taller plants, etc. We'll see how it goes. 

I had a pretty big epiphany this week as a result of the journaling I've been doing in 30 Day Vegan. It feels so good to finally have the answer to something that's been on my mind for months.

Lately I've been feeling quiet and introspective, but I'm here. We have a long weekend coming up and I'm looking forward to some down time and not looking at the clock. Sounds good to me... be back soon. 

Eyes Open // Creative Photography e-course :: a giveaway!!

photo by Erin Wallace

Do you know Erin of Bluebird Baby? Erin is a busy mama, crafty lady, and professional photographer specializing in the most artistic wedding and family portrait experiences you could imagine. She travels to events and also stays close to home in her beautiful state of Maine, shooting as a destination photographer. Isn't that cool? So many families vacation in Maine, why not book a family portrait session with Erin to capture the memories? Love that idea. 

Many of us ladies (and gentlemen) who circle around Erin's work in complete awe have been nudging her (okay, begging) to offer a photography ecourse... for those of us with all types of cameras, not just the fancy ones. 

And now, Erin is doing just that!

This course is open to anyone with a camera... from and iPhone to a DSLR!

 

 

This course has been designed for people with an interest in photography who want to become more comfortable and familiar with their cameras, and learn how to take their photography in a creative direction. Eyes Open is about living your creative life with more awareness...transferring that awareness into your photography to be able to artistically document everyday life in a way that is unique to you and your eye!

Topics will include:

• camera and photography basics

• training the eye creatively

• shooting in natural light

• editing basics using an online editing software program available to everyone for free

• guest photography posters who will discuss their shooting style and reflect on elements discussed in this course

• creative living through photography, art, journaling, inspiration boards

• how to put more of you into your photographs; letting your personal style shine

• creating an awareness throughout your day and keeping your Eyes Open!

• calling yourself an artist

• behind the scenes on a portrait shoot

Weekly Lessons will make up this course. Each week will be divided into different elements. These will include:

• Main lesson

• Photo Challenge

• Video

• Guest post from an inspiring photographer

Participants in this course will be invited to discuss the lessons, their experiences, etc. by commenting on the specific posts. Questions can be asked in the Facebook group. A Flickr group will be available for uploading pictures to share with other participants and for critique.

But most of all, we will have fun together exploring creative photography!

photo by Erin Wallace

The course will begin June 25th!

The lessons will be available to participants at their convenience throughout the 6 week course.

 

photo by Erin Wallace

Amazing, right? You should know two things:

1. Erin is giving away one spot in the course to a beauty that moves reader! 

2. Erin is offering a 20% discount to each of you, simply enter the code beautythatmoves when you checkout. Fantastic! I hope to see some of you in class... :)

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post. If you care to, please share how you would like to improve or better understand photography... how would you like to grow? The giveaway will be open until Wednesday evening, good luck!

 

The comments are closed and the winner is:

JennO said:

From personal images to pictures for blogging...my cameras different programs illude me...leaving things a bit blurry...too dark...too light...unintentionally grainy... Help! This would be such a blessing! Thanks so much for the opportunity.

Erin will be in touch with you Jenn!

Thanks everyone, and thank you Erin!

Don't forget you can receive a 20% discount code through Sunday when you register... enter beautythatmoves upon checkout and you'll be all set!

18 :: may

 

 

 

 

 

The house has reached that (almost) summertime point of cool darkness. There is a tree outside Emily's bedroom that needs to come down, disease combined with its leaning severely over her bed. Taking it down will brighten things up. Which also means it will heat things up. Weather has been too crazy the last couple of years to have a looming tree so close to her sleeping self. I've actually had her sleep in a different bedroom, away from the tree, a couple of times since we've been here. Perhaps a little post traumatic stress... who knows.

I do normally wait until after the height of pollen season to clean the windows, but they are really calling to me! If I just continue to stay busy in the garden perhaps I won't notice. Let's call that my plan. 

I told him I missed Sukha, and he quietly told me "I know, when you stop missing Sukha I'll be worried." He gets me. We've been together 20 years this spring, more than half my life. 

The screen porch is being used so very much, especially in the evenings. Owls and coyotes can be heard in the not too far off distance. The porch isn't big, maybe 6x9? Last night we decided a couple of simple patchwork quilts would make it just perfect for cool evenings. Maybe flannel backed. Alicia's new quilt is such a dream, but I'm thinking this style may be more realistic for me right now. With proper binding, I'd really like to perfect that.  

Off to get the laundry on the line and two skirts I've been working on finished.