My Favorite Chopped Salad

Thursday morning was one of the best mornings I have had in a long time. I didn't have to be at work at my usual time of 7:00 A.M. so I was able to partake in my old morning routine. This old morning routine originated during my "funemployment" stage of life and consisted of me watching the Today Show in my pajamas, eating breakfast and drinking coffee, while reading my daily blogs. Since I have begun working, I haven't been able to do most of these things and they have been greatly missed. Breakfast and coffee now happen at my desk and I haven't watched a minute of the Today Show since May. It was great being reunited with the whole gang and catching up on blogs was a breath of fresh air and an incredible source of inspiration.

Thursday morning, all of my favorite morning things were brought back in to my life and it was while I was perusing one of my favorite blogs that I came across a new blog and a new recipe source! Marshalls Abroad is a blog that captures the life of a married couple recently relocated to Japan. Amanda blogs about their life and also some incredible-looking recipes. Her chopped salad recipe looked delicious from the moment I laid eyes on it and even though I didn't have the exact ingredients, I knew that I could recreate it and it was a smashing success. For something that was thrown together on a late Thursday night after a day of being out in the hot sun and a tough workout, I can say that it was the perfect meal and one of the best salads I have ever eaten (this includes all salads; homemade and ordered in restaurants).

My Favorite Chopped Salad

Inspired by Marshalls Abroad

Serves 1 (the original recipe serves 4)

For the salad
1/4 head of romaine, or other bunch of lettuce
3-4 medium strawberries, chopped
1/2 mango, chopped
1/4 red onion, chopped
3 scallions, sliced
8 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 slices of bacon, cooked crispy and then chopped
small bunch of cilantro, roughly chopped
small handful of feta

For the dressing
1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil
juice from 1/2 of a lemon
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 tablespoon agave nectar
1/4 teaspoon dijon mustard
pinch of sea salt
(could add a splash of balsamic vinegar but I was all out)

Place the lettuce in the bottom of a shallow bowl and then arrange your toppings on top. Mix all ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl and mix well before dressing your salad. Enjoy!

Other recipes that I can't wait to try from my new favorite blog--

Mediterranean Feast - Good Morning Eggs - Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Sea Salt Kisses - 

Farmers Market Pizza - Lemon Rosemary Mahi Mahi

This salad will be on repeat. 

Summer Berry & Chicken Salad

 I came home pretty exhausted on Tuesday evening. I guess your first day at your big-girl job will do that to you and after working out I was even more tired. I wanted to come home and crash on the couch and watch the Voice but still eat something satisfying. I knew that my refrigerator was stocked with greens and vegetables, my freezer always has chicken, and I had an avocado in it's last days. With all that I had around the house I made a delicious and colorful salad that I am calling my summer berry and chicken salad. 

Of course, any salad you can alter to your liking, but for mine...

You Will Need

1 small handful of blackberries and raspberries

1 tablespoon diced green onions

1/4 avocado, sliced

1 tablespoon candied or spiced pecans (I had these on hand because my mom made them for me, any dry nut would also work!)

1 frozen chicken breast strip

Any green- I used a mixture of chopped romaine and spinach

Feta Cheese

Dressing-

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1/2 tablespoon agave nectar

Juice from 1/2 lemon

Start by cooking your chicken breast, unless already prepared. Slice into small strips. Cut onions and avocado. Mix all ingredients with greens.

Whisk together all ingredients for the dressing, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle over salad. 

Ask my mom for her pecan recipe, you will be so glad you did. 

Broiled Grapefruit

Breakfast has always been my favorite meal of the day even if that means just a bowl of cereal and coffee. When I find recipes that are healthy, easy, and delicious I love to trying them to add some variance to my morning meal. This broiled grapefruit recipe had so many things about it that caught my eye that I made it the same day that I found the recipe. 

Cookie and Kate has quickly become one of my go-to blogs for recipes and I have yet to be disappointed, not even close. This grapefruit turns out sweet and soft and the combination of granola and greek yogurt adds a creamy and crunchy value. It also gave me an excuse (not that I needed one) to make more of this homemade granola!

Breakfast is calling.

Chocolate Fudge Pomegranate Cookies

Before this year I had never even eaten a pomegranate. It wasn't until a sweet friend once exclaimed that pomegranates were her favorite snack that they entered my culinary radar. 

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I hadn't even tried the fruit yet, but when I found this recipe for Chocolate Fudge Pomegranate Cookies I was intrigued and my mouth was watering. I am a lover of desserts with fruit in them, and all chocolate treats sometimes seem too rich for me. I loved the idea of a delicious, gooey, fudge cookie with bursts of refreshing sweetness and that is exactly what this cookie is.

I also love the hints of pink hiding in this dough and in the cookies-- so pleasing to the eye and the stomach. Rather than using a fresh pomegranate (which you can do) I bought the snack pack of pomegranate arils which gives you all the juice and arils for this recipe!

I followed this recipe from my favorite food blog. I swear that Jessica at How Sweet It Is cannot go wrong and her blog is overflowing with delicious recipes just begging to be made! (I almost always give in to the begging... I think the last 10 recipes I have made have come from her recipe index)

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Don't be thrown off by the pomegranates, these cookies are an incredible chocolate cookie with a hint of something special. They also got the major stamp of approval from my pomegranate-loving friend as we devoured them while watching the final episode of Gossip Girl. 

XOXO. 

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