This is one of my favorite salads to make when the air grows cooler and my body is craving something healthy and warm. The roasted sweet potatoes add heartiness to the greens and the warm vinaigrette, inspired by Ina Garten, is the perfect complement. The first time I made this, my husband said it was one of the best salads I have ever made (and trust me, I’ve made a lot)!
{photos courtesy of Justin Chesney}
Food is not just fuel. Food is about family, food is about community, food is about identity. We nourish all those things when we eat well. – Michael Pollan
I have wanted to host a proper dinner gathering with close friends for years. A few weeks ago, I was able to witness that dream coming to fruition. About fifteen of my close friends gathered for a night of delicious food, hand crafted drinks, a carefully curated playlist, and most importantly conversation and community. There were a handful of us that crafted plans, thrifted linens, created beautiful papeterie, perused the farmer’s market, hand-picked leaves from the fiery fall trees and made it happen! I loved watching it all come together—to see everyone coming alive in their own way, following their talents and passions. That is community—people coming together, giving of themselves, enjoying each other, breaking bread together, being intentional, telling stories, and listening intently. Food is definitely something special. It’s a necessity for survival, but it’s also most enjoyable. It brings people together in a way that’s different than almost anything else. Gathering together around a common table to take part in a meal feeds not only our body, but our souls.
My husband carefully curated a playlist for the evening. Listen in the player below.
^Apple Thyme Gin Fiz Continue reading
This kale salad is one of the dishes I get the most requests for, and it’s also one of the simplest. The hearty kale, balanced by the acidity of the lemon with a zip from the chili flakes and a nice crunch from the breadcrumbs, is addicting and it’s probably my favorite way to enjoy this dark, leafy green.
Eat your vitamins:
I have a friend who wouldn’t touch kale for years because the only way he had experienced it was as a green buffet garnish covered in spilled food (sound appetizing?). Well, kale is so much more than that! It is a member of the brassica family, cousins to broccoli and cabbage, rather than romaine or other salad greens. Kale is a powerhouse of nutrients, fulfilling your daily requirements of vitamins A, K, and C in just one serving! It is particularly high in vitamin K (over 1,000% of our daily value in 1 cup), which is key in helping regulate our body’s inflammatory responses. It also boasts over 45 different flavonoids, making kale a front-runner against inflammation and oxidative stress, which can help lower your risk of cancer. Go Kale!
Bloom & Nourish 