How do you lose 20lbs in two months? Okay, I know, diet and exercise (and caffeine?) is the recommended method, but here's my suggestion: plant waaaay too much lettuce and spinach for one person (or two or five) to possibly be able to eat. Okay, I'll admit that being a nursing mother doesn't hurt on the weight loss front either, nor does watching what else you are eating besides salad, but it certainly doesn't hurt to eat a head of lettuce every two days.
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| Early June |
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| So many greens! |
The month of June was officially Salad Month on the Haytourowski Farm. I did my best to keep it interesting, spinach salad with strawberries and nuts, basic "side salads" with chopped veggies and croutons, and my new favorite salad (aka food obsession) is roasted root vegetables and feta on a bed of greens. Basically, toss your choice of roots (I like beets, carrots and sweet potatoes) in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and crushed rosemary, roast at 375° until soft, and retain any juices since they will add to the dressing. Stir in a sweet type vinaigrette (I make my own) and chill. Serve over fresh salad greens with feta cheese and devour.
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| Spinach, Strawberries, Walnuts and Parmesan |
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| Lettuces (and yes, I know my finger is in the corner of the photo, I'm just too lazy to crop it out) |
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| Spinach, Oakleaf Lettuce, Red Romaine, Bibb Lettuce and Black Simpson Lettuce |
By the Fourth of July, the lettuce was bitter and getting ready to bolt, so lesson learned, next year we sow 4-6 lettuce seeds per week so we don't end up having to compost so much goodness simply because we couldn't eat it all. Now that the bed is empty, I am going to wait a few weeks and try sowing some broccoli and cauliflower for a fall crop.
Easy Berry Vinaigrette
1/2 cup Berry Jam (any kind will do, blackberry, raspberry, and marionberry are all nice)
1/2 cup Oil (I like walnut oil since it has lots of yummy omega-3s but any lightly flavored oil will do)
1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
If your jam has a lot of big fruit pieces, you can run it through a mesh sieve or strainer if you want a smoother dressing. Combine all ingredients in a jar big enough to leave at least an inch of headroom (make sure you have the lid to the jar). Shake until combined. Depending on the acidity of your vinegar and the sweetness of your jam, you may have to add more of one or the other to your taste. Pour over greens and enjoy! Store any leftovers in the fridge (you will have to shake it before each use).
