Living the Good Life...: Spring

Showing posts with label Spring. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Just the Boys

Today, I left early in the morning headed down to Jackson to meet with a coalition of healthcare associations across our state that the Mississippi Nurses Association organizes. I attended on behalf of Mississippi Friends of Midwives with our president, Bianca Wooden and the president of the Mississippi Midwives Alliance, Renata Hillman. ANYways, long story short, Will and the boys had the day all to themselves which was a first.

Being the super dad that he is, he packed them a picnic and took them to the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge.

a bird! Charlie's fave!

I'm not sure what I love more about their clothes today...

The fact that Will put them in matching shorts or that their shirts do not match said shorts at all.

This sums it up really...

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Spinach, Walnut, & Blueberry Salad w/ Grilled Salmon & Homemade Poppyseed Dressing

Is there anything that screams summer like fruit a top your salad dressed with poppyseed dressing?

Not really.

Poppyseed dressing perfectly compliments many of summer's ripened beauties.

We bought blueberries at the farmers' market on Saturday, so they were just waiting to be eaten.

We also had spinach and cucumber from the market and since we've been under extreme heat advisories for what, a week or 2 now, I decided to make a salad with it for dinner. We're in full summer no-cook mode because it's just TOO hot!

All we needed was to marinate the salmon in some honey, tamari and lemon juice before putting on the grill and then make the dressing.

aren't the sunflowers a nice touch?

They were Tripp's pick at the market Saturday.

So, the dressing.

Easy-peasy.

Homemade Poppyseed Dressing

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (the real stuff w/ the mother)
1/2 cup agave nectar or honey
2 teaspoons ground mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
2-3 tablespoons poppy seeds

1-2 teaspoons of grated onion

1 cup olive oil (or walnut, grapeseed, etc use your fave salad oil)

In a bowl whisk together vinegar, agave nectar, dry mustard, salt, poppy seeds and onion. Slowly add one cup of oil, whisking vigorously as you add.

I store mine in a mason jar in the fridge.

Layer your salad...Ours was Spinach, cucumbers, blueberries, walnuts, feta and grilled salmon.

Give your dressing a good shake and then, dress.

Mmmm...enjoy!
And thank me later!