Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts

Squash and Kale Salad with Orange Tahini Dressing

Monday, November 23, 2015

Main Dish, recipes, Salad, side dish, squash, winter

Today, I walked outside to greet a thin layer of frost across the top of our car. Now I feel justified in posting lots of warm, hearty recipes (says the girl who posts soup recipes in June... ). This isn't a particularly warm recipe, but it is hearty, especially for a salad.

Salads usually get categorized as a side dish, but I think that is a mistake for some salads, because they can be incredible filling. I love this one, because I find that it is just the perfect balance of sweet and salty, with a tangy bite to the dressing. Honestly, the dressing is incredible. I don't think I have ever tasted anything like it before, and it is so delicious.

I thought it might be worth posting a salad on Thanksgiving week, because you might need a post-Thanksgiving salad to justify all the pie you are going to eat.

Salad:

1 head of curly kale, destemmed, and ripped into large bite-size pieces
a few drops of olive oil
1 acorn squash, chopped in half, seeds removed, and thinly sliced
1 Tbs oil
dash of salt and pepper
1/4 cup pepitas, roasted and salted
1/8 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Place your kale in a large bowl. Pour the drops of olive oil over the kale and massage the kale for a minute or two between your fingers, until the kale softens and turns bright green.

In a medium sized frying pan, place the acorn squash in the pan with the oil, and cook with a lid on for about 4 minutes. Flip when the squash has softened and begins to brown. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the squash is soft. Lightly salt and pepper it, and remove it from the pan. Carefully remove the peel with a knife. Put squash pieces on the kale.

Sprinkle prepared pepitas over salad, and sprinkle feta on as well. Serve with dressing (see recipe below). Enjoy!

Dressing:
slightly adapted from the edible perspective

2 Tbs orange juice
1 tsp orange zest
2 Tbs tahini
2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
1 Tbs maple syrup
1 Tbs olive oil
dash of salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients in a jar and mix with a spoon until smooth.

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Coats, Janssen, Merrick, Raiding My Sister's Closet, winter, Winter clothing

This weekend, our weather is supposed to drop down into the 20's, and I am getting ready (and super excited) to pull out my winter coats! Winter coats are such a lovely part of the winter (especially because it means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are getting close!), and I love layering with a fabulous coat! A few years ago my mom gave me a gorgeous cobalt blue coat for Christmas that I have just loved wearing! It is beautiful and striking while still looking great with loads of outfits. I hunted around the web and found a few beauties that I thought were just as striking for your viewing (and/or buying) pleasure! If you are looking to invest in a new coat this year, one of these might be just the one for you! Military, feminine, or casual, there is something for everyone here! Now, I am rethinking if I need a new coat or not this year! There are some fabulous choices out there!

Green Peacoat: Anthro//Black Military Coat: Macy's// Blue Plaid Coat: Anthro

Black Zip Coat: Forever 21// White Coat: Macy's//Green Fur Coat: Wet Seal//

Check out Janssen and Merrick's coat picks for this winter! Also, if you missed my Etsy Giveway and Coupon Code post from yesterday, you should stop by and enter!