From heart-shaped pancakes .. to strawberries on oatcakes .. to peonies in the arms of a new friend .. a few things that have been happening in our world
lately
Excited – About our backyard garden. So far we have tomatoes, carrots, beets, kale, and lots herbs that are proving a bit finicky when it comes to sprouting
Listening to – A lawnmower starting. The sprinkler next door kicks on. Five kids, with popsicles in hand, come running. Not far behind, one very fluffy (and happy) puppy. I add popsicles to my grocery list
Reading – David Sedaris' new book Calypso .. after listening to his funny interview on Fresh Air. Favorite quote/thought:
“I feel like .. Do you remember when all of those young people took to the streets against gun violence? I wasn't jealous of them, but I felt kind of happy for them. You know that time in your life when you're young like that and you really believe you can make a difference? I'm not saying that you can't make a difference when you're older or that a person can't make a difference, but there was just a light coming from inside of them. They were like lanterns, glowing with their certainty. You lose that as you get older. And I had it when I was young, so it's not like I had a chance to have it and I didn't, that when you're bitter. When you think ‘Gosh darn it, I didn't take advantage of that when I had it?' I did, I guess when you get further away from it, it makes you a little sad I suppose” ~ David Sedaris
Summer Reading List – After running across this list the Library of Congress published in 2012 of its top 25 “Books That Shaped America” .. I've decided to make my way through them. There are so many classics
Loving – The newness of summer. Neighbors gather with loosened ties after a long day at work. This past Sunday a surprise concert. Across the street, a wife throws open the garage door, and her husband's band plays classics well into the evening. Friends gather to drink champagne and eat dessert with our fingers
Pondering – Do you have a favorite smell? Lately, I've been thinking a lot about this when I'm out for my evening walks. So far I've come up with two. One being the scent of charcoal on a warm summer's night. Although a close second? The smell of sweating celery and onions – the aroma of Thanksgiving
For Dinner – Hummus heaped with cucumbers and tomatoes. Oh my goodness, so addicting
A close second – Bon Appetit's California Veggie Sandwich
Eavesdropping – On conversations of water-walkers at the pool. If my favorite ladies are there, I love to hear what they've been up to. If not, I walk alone in the sunshine and listen in on everyone else. The other day I kept a comfortable distance behind two women. One told of her daughter's boyfriend woes. Just as it was getting good .. she got out(!)
Thankful – for weekend sleep-ins .. a block of sharp white cheddar in my backpack .. hula skirts on the rosé .. and brewing thunderstorms
Cooking – from a few of these summer cookbooks. Especially Fresh India with all of its veggies and bold flavors. Also, Eat a Little Better by Sam Kass, who cooked for the Obama family when they were living in the White House
Finding – myself driving through campus if only to see the geese at Lake Laverne. It reminds me there is still kindness in the world when, for the smallest moment, time stands still. Professors in their BMWs, coffee-clutching mothers in minivans, city buses, garbage trucks, and helmet-clad bicyclists all come to a stop and wait patiently as a mother goose and her gaggle of eight make their way across the road to safety
I'll never tire of the sight. An entire civilization making way for another. Ceasing business as usual to usher in an everyday miracle
Date Nights – If you have a chance, take your Sweetie to see Adrift. It's such a great story
Cooking short-list – Summer Minestrone Soup .. Avocado Toast Salad .. Gluten-free pizza crust .. and Lemon Blueberry Loaf Cake (GF)
Realizing – that change doesn't have to be so scary after all. The past month I've been working my way through, what feels like, a big life transition. What I've come to realize is that change isn't about having faith in your ability to fly, to rise above, to conquer your dreams. It's about having faith that whatever the fall may be, it's not going to kill you
I'm not sure what sort of crossroads you're walking toward (and we all will at some point(s)). I don't know if it's a total overhaul, a lifestyle shift, a career move, a life-changing decision
Maybe you just want to start playing the tuba. (Maybe you want to quit playing the tuba). As with everything in this world, it's all very fleeting. You run the risk of losing it all. The small notoriety, the general comforts of knowing what you're doing, of feeling comfortable, of feeling ok
Changing things up is certainly a risk. It may never look the same
But then again, it might never look the same
Wishing – For you a wonderful Wednesday. As always, sending lots of love. Thank-you so much for being here
xo
If you're looking for a new salad to add to your summer rotation, consider this
We're talking ground lamb spiced with the flavors of Morocco, tossed with roasted carrots, kale, greens, and a lemony tahini vinaigrette. You've got crunch from the toasted pine nuts, and brightness from the pomegranate seeds. I imagine it would be great with some toasted flatbread on the side to scoop up the bits
It's delicious, flexible, and completely satisfying. It makes a great weeknight meal. You can prepare most of the components ahead of time, and throw it together in less than ten minutes when you're ready to serve
Enjoy!
xoxo
~ Adapted from Cook Real Food Every Day
4.9 from 11 reviews
Moroccan Lamb and Kale Salad with Lemon-Tahini Vinaigrette
Print
Prep time
20 mins
Cook time
30 mins
Total time
50 mins
Author: Sexy Veggie
Serves: 6 Servings
Ingredients
Moroccan Lamb and Kale Salad
1½ lbs ground lamb
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp Moroccan spice blend
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 large bunch baby carrots, halved lengthwise
1 bunch lacinato kale, shredded
Lemon-Tahini Vinaigrette, divided
1 head frisee lettuce, coarsely chopped
½ cup fresh parsley leaves
½ cup pomegranate seeds
⅓ cup pine nuts, toasted
Lemon-Tahini Vinaigrette
¼ cup fresh mint, finely chopped
3 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp tahini
2 Tbsp water
1 small shallot, minced
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
Moroccan Lamb and Kale Salad
Preheat oven to 425 deg F
In a large ovenproof heavy-bottomed skillet, saute lamb over medium-high heat until crumbly and no pink remains (~ 10 minutes)
Stir in garlic and Moroccan spice blend; cook until browned and fragrant (~ 2 minutes)
Toss carrots in hot drippings in skillet, and saute for 1 minute. Transfer skillet to oven
Bake, stiffing carrots once, until golden and tender (~ 15-18 minutes)
In a large bowl, massage kale and ¼ cup lemon-tahini vinaigrette until well coated. Toss in frisee and parsley
Divide salad among 4 serving dishes
Top with lamb mix, carrots, pomegranate seeds, and pine nuts
Serve warm with remaining lemon-tahini vinaigrette
Lemon-Tahini Vinaigrette
In a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, add all of the ingredients and shake vigorously until well combined
Season with salt and pepper
Let stand for twenty to thirty minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ⅙ Total Recipe Calories: 340 Fat: 24 g Carbohydrates: 11 g Sugar: 4 g Fiber: 4 g Protein: 22 g
3.5.3251
The post Moroccan Lamb and Kale Salad (Because Life Is Short and This Salad is Wonderful) appeared first on Veggies By Candlelight.