by Guest | featured guests, recipes
Happy Tuesday! Yesterday in my first guest post I spilled my secret to keeping innovative in the kitchen by regularly experimenting with new ingredients. In that spirit, this week’s recipe theme is geared towards trying ingredients that are slightly off the beaten path. For example, yesterday I introduced cacao as a healthy cocoa or chocolate replacement in my recipe for Cacao Coconut Granola Clusters. Today I’d like to introduce you to a simple salad recipe that replaces every day romaine with yummy kale.
I’m always surprised by how many people don’t use kale in their regular cooking habits. It is in fact a super food and in my opinion, it’s super delicious too! This Kale and Avocado Salad with Creamy Cilantro Salad Dressing is a staple in my weekly meal plan. The trick to making the kale taste salad-ready and delicious is to make it soft and tender by massaging the leaves with the cilantro dressing. By massaging the leaves you help to break down the cell wall of the kale, allowing it to wilt and absorb all the delicious dressing flavors. Follow the recipe below to give your salad regime a new look!
Kale and Avocado Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing
Ingredients:
Cilantro Dressing
- 1 cup loosely packed cilantro, stems removed and roughly chopped
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ tsp. white wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp. honey
- Dash of salt and pepper
Kale Salad
- 2 bunches kale
- 4 ribs of celery, diced
- 1-2 avocados, diced
Instructions
For dressing: Combine all salad dressing ingredients into a mixing bowl and whisk until combined. Taste test and adjust ingredients to your personal preference. Set aside.
For salad: Start by washing the kale, then tear or cut small pieces off the stems. Discard the stems and place the leaves into a mixing bowl.
Drizzle all the dressing ingredients onto the kale. Then use your hands to firmly start massaging the dressing into the kale leaves for 2-3 minutes. As you massage, you’ll feel the leaves soften and wilt. Once leaves are soft, add into the salad the celery and avocado. Serve and enjoy!
Referring link: http://www.seasonallyjane.com/2014/03/kale-and-avocado-salad-with-creamy.html
See you tomorrow!
by Guest | featured guests, recipes
I am so excited to be a guest blogger on Sunny Slide Up! My name is Alivia and I run a self-titled food blog called Alivia Jane. I started a blog as a way to tap into my creative side and showcase the foods I love to eat. Most of my recipes revolve around a whole foods and a plant-based way of eating, although I do sneak in a meat recipe here and there. Everything in moderation is my motto!
To keep innovative in the kitchen I experiment with a new ingredient every few weeks. It is so rewarding to try slightly off-the-beaten path ingredients that open up the door to new flavors and kitchen creativeness. My hope is that through the simple and delicious dishes I create, I will inspire others to be inventive in their kitchens with healthy and incredible tasting foods.
This week, I’ll be sharing five simple recipes that incorporate a new ingredient that you may not use in your every day cooking. Today, I’d like to share my recipe for Cacao Coconut Granola Clusters! If you are not familiar with cacao, it is a sugar-free raw powder and a healthy alternative to conventional over-processed “cocoa” used often for baking and desserts. Cacao is a top source of antioxidants, and it contains an abundance of magnesium and iron. It is amazing!
Finding a healthy snack can sometimes seem like such an impossible mission, especially when trying to maintain a healthy diet. These Cacao Coconut Granola Clusters are the perfect snack not only because they are totally delicious and made with whole foods like nuts, seeds and cacao powder, but also they’re filled with antioxidants, protein, and fiber. You can eat them plain, for breakfast with almond milk, or in yogurt.
Cacao Coconut Granola Clusters
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cacao powder
- 1 cup of gluten free oats
- 1 cup pecans, lightly broken up but not crushed
- ½ cup dried coconut flakes
- ½ cup flaxseed
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- 3 bananas
- 4 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons almond butter
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a medium baking dish.
Place oats, pecans, coconut, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, and sunflowers seeds into a medium sized mixing bowl. Toss to mix and set aside.
Into a food processor place the almond butter, maple syrup, bananas, and cacao powder and blend until smooth. Pour this mix over the dry ingredients and stir well until all dry ingredients are coated.
Add the granola into your baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the dish to toss the flattened granola mixture to create clusters and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven to let cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Tip: Don’t be shy about adding additional maple syrup or honey drizzle to the finished granola for an extra sweet finishing touch!
Referring link: http://www.seasonallyjane.com/2014/07/cacao-coconut-granola-clusters.html
Excited to share a week of recipes with you!
by sunnyslideup | featured guests, style
First, congratulations to the winner of the Apricot Lane Girlfriend Styling Session and $50 in Apricot Lane Charlotte gift cards Giveaway…..
Please contact us to claim your prize!
To wrap up our camping theme week here on Sunny Slide Up, we have a guest from Apricot Lane Charlotte to share with us the 7 Fashion Essentials a Girl Needs to Survive – for camping, glamping and more!
Whether you are going to Coachella or taking a local camping trip with the family, you still need to look the part. Fashion is fun! It is the costume we wear on the stage of our life. Can you remember a certain article of clothing that was your ultimate favorite growing up? I remember my magnetic rainbow belt that was a staple in my wardrobe as a kid. Although we may not put much thought into getting dressed in the morning, fashion is part of the memories we create in life. We all have a little ‘fashionista’ in our hearts. This week we are celebrating camping in our stores, or should we say-Glamping, and talking about the 7 essentials you need if you were to take a camping trip.
1. 3Strands power – We believe strongly that we must be working for a greater purpose. We love helping dress women and make them feel confident, however we also find it important to help others. Through the 3Strands foundation we educate others on ways to stop human trafficking.
2. Bandeau Beautiful – Great fashion requires great underpinnings. Don’t worry if you can’t wear a bra, just put a bandeau on top of it and voilá! Everyone can wear a backless shirt.
3. Tanks – Every girl need a collection of Nikibikis. Soft, stretchy and perfect. They are perfect under everything!
4. Pretty in Print – Everyone needs some fun! Print is hot this Summer! Mix it in or wear it together.
5. Hello, Piko. – What’s your favorite tee? Ours is the Piko tee. Piko makes the best oversized tee that just looks perfect on everyone. Add a chunky necklace and some skinnys and you have a great date night outfit.
6. Dazed for Denim! – It’s our favorite staple. Denim will always be a wardrobe must. The most important thing is to find a pair that fits your body. Stop by and one of our specialists will help you find the perfect pair.
7. LBD or LWD, you choose. – Both are wardrobe staples. Everyone needs a little black or white dress when that party arises and you have nothing to wear. It should be a perfect fit and be your go to wardrobe item.
Be sure to connect with us on social media to stay updated on new arrivals, upcoming events, fashion tips and more! Check us out at Facebook.com/ApricotLaneCharlotte and Pinterest.com/apricotlanenc/.
– Sarah
(Sarah O’Connor is Director of Marketing for Apricot Lane stores throughout North Carolina)
