¡Ensalada!

Written by on in Lunch, Tidbits and Treats

I’m (figuratively) scratching my head and wondering how it’s Tuesday already! I spent the majority of my day yesterday swept up in an accounting case study. Word to the wise: do not procrastinate accounting case studies. Ever. I promise you will thank me later.

As you may know, Leng’s Salad Challenge officially started last Sunday. So far, it’s been a lot of fun trying to come up with “salads” that break the traditional mold while still adhering to the challenge rules. Here is an update of what I’ve been munching on so far!

Sunday, April 12, 2009

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Wait, what?

Before you ask me if I bumped my head on something, I’d like to introduce you to “blended salad” 🙂

Following the rules of the challenge:

  1. At least 1 cup of raw green leafy vegetables (I used 2 cups of spinach)
  2. At least 1 serving of 1 vegetable of a different color (I used plant-based hemp protein!)
  3. A source of protein (the 1 packet hemp protein powder!)
  4. Dressing is optional (I used a light blend of 1/2 cup orange juice, water and 6 ice cubes)
  5. One serving of something else you’re feeling at the moment (how about 1/4 cup each of frozen cherries and frozen mixed berries, 1/2 banana, and 1 tbsp. ground flax?)

See? It’s a salad, after all :mrgreen: You know I’m clever. The hemp protein powder came from one of the Living Harvest sample packets that Brittany sent me.

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It had a bit of a gritty texture to it, but that was a good thing – I liked the “healthy” taste of the smoothie and it complemented the sweetness of the fruit really well. Another great choice, girly!

Nutrition Information (per smoothie):

  • 325 calories
  • 5g fat
  • 66g carbohydrates
  • 22g fiber
  • 23g protein

Monday, April 13, 2009

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Yes, that bowl is as big as it looks.

This salad was inspired by a recent post from Miss Gliding Calm. One of the many reasons I love her blog so much is that she often makes gigantic salads full of fresh ingredients. That was what I was going for here, and it came out great! In accordance with the challenge:

  1. At least 1 cup of raw green leafy vegetables (I used 3 cups of spinach)
  2. At least 1 serving of 1 vegetable of a different color (I used 1 red pepper + 1/2 cucumber!)
  3. A source of protein (I used 1/4 cup cottage cheese + 2 tbsp. chipotle hummus!)
  4. Dressing is optional (I used 2 tbsp. balsamic vinaigrette + 1 tbsp. salsa)
  5. One serving of something else you’re feeling at the moment (how about sliced almonds?)

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I tried to get a crap ton lot of flavors into this bowl. The balsamic vinaigrette + hummus + cottage cheese + salsa combination really gave this salad a punch. I got a different taste in every forkful. It also took forever to eat because it was so massive, but by the time I was done, I was perfectly full.

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Nutrition Information (per salad):

  • 245 calories
  • 10g fat
  • 28g carbohydrates
  • 13g fiber
  • 16g protein

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

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I just had this for lunch. The recipe and nutrition information are here: Humbecue Salmon Salad.

The only changes I made were to fit within the rules of the challenge:

  1. At least 1 cup of raw green leafy vegetables (I used 2 cups of spinach)
  2. At least 1 serving of 1 vegetable of a different color (I used 1 cup white mushrooms!)
  3. A source of protein (I used 1 packet of pink salmon packed in water)
  4. Dressing is optional (I used 2 tbsp. Bone Suckin’ Sauce + 2 tbsp. chipotle hummus)
  5. One serving of something else you’re feeling at the moment (how about sliced almonds?)

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It has been a delicious challenge so far! I’m looking forward to continuing to experiment 🙂

Last but not least, I want to thank the lovely K, who gave me an award last week:

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FRIENDS… comes with the following description to be added & passed along: “These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

I am going to cop out and award all of the writers of the blogs I read and the bloggers I’ve interacted with (both in person and through the blogosphere) this award, since I truly do consider each of you my friend. As K said, the fact that you even take the time to read my posts makes me feel so lucky. So this award goes to all of you – thank you for always managing to bring a smile to my face no matter how rough the day may seem!

I’ve got some advertising reading to do before a night of classes, so I’m out!

I heart salad,

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55 Comments

  1. Your Humbecue salad looks so good! I have seen different versions of it floating around the blogosphere, and I really need to try it!!! I agree with you about this week flying by!!!!

  7. What a creative idea on the blended salad! They all look SO good- but the last one is def the best looking to me! I am obviously a huge salad fan too! I can’t get enough 😉 Hope you have a wonderful Tuesday

  8. you little trickster! Everything looks so good and the pictures are great—I bet you’re going to ACE your photography class!! Good luck tonight—night classes are the worst!

  13. You’re so clever with your “blended salad” and the rest of them are lookin’ might fine too!

    I consider you such a special friend Jenn! So glad to have “met” you here, and congrats on your well-deserved award!

  19. Love all the salads – I think the best part is the variety. So often you think of a salad as being one thing, and you’re totally breaking the mold. Very creative. 🙂

  20. Blended salad – you’re a tricky one, Miss Eating Bender!! That salad has my name all over it, salsa + cottage cheese + hummus = YUM!

    I need to try the humbecue!!

  25. I love all the salad variations and your usage of plates throughout this post!

    Hope you make it through all the work!

  27. Those are some creative salads! and yes, we should totally reminisce about Evanston eateries! I never ate there, but the nut place that has a fan blowing out that delicious smell always always always made me soooo hungry!

  29. I love how creative your salads are! AHHHHMAAZINGG 🙂

    I also didn’t realize how fast today ran by, let’s hope the weekend comes before we know it

  30. All of your salads for the challenge looks delicious! I especially enjoyed reading about the blended version. Glad that you liked the hemp protein. I think it works way better in smoothies because I tried it in oatmeal once…. bleh. It tasted a little too “natural” for me, if you know what I mean.

    I need to try the humbecue salmon salad- it sounds/looks so good!

  34. Love that blue salad bowl! So cool!

    You know I am craving ALL your salad creations.

  36. Jenn, I love how unique these salad ideas are. You’ve also reminded me I have some canned salmon in the pantry! Your salad bowl is cool, too. I guess overall I just love this post 🙂

  37. I just learned not to save department query letters for magazine till last minute, too! Gotta love learning the heard way 🙂

    I adore all the salads! You sneaky little smarty pants for thinking about that smoothie as a salad–it really does fit the requirements! I need that beautiful blue, gigantic bowl now!

    Have a great rest of your week!

  40. I heart salads too! Yours are just gorgeous. As is the smoothie salad 😉 I could have sworn there was chocolate in that…

  45. gorgeous salad medley!
    especially the blended one- genius! 😀
    COUNTDOWN TO AZ IS oN!!! ahhh i’m so excited!
    congrats on the award… reading your posts always make ME smile 😀
    have a great day! <3

  46. Whoa whoa!
    Salad challenge?!
    I can’t believe I missed out so heavily~
    Blended salad~yummmm–have always wanted to try it–but too lazy to wash veggies XD
    Love all the plates!

  49. I can get on board with the salads…esp the salmon one!

    The blended salad though, gosh, that’s going a bit too crazy for me. Just call me old fashioned. I like my salad, ya know, on a plate!

  53. Hey Jenn

    I made your Monday salad and it was the best salad I have EVER had!! I did change it a little though. Thanks for posting the recipe.

  54. Jenn,
    So very clever. 🙂

    Now about that hemp protein. I just don’t like it. Anything I’ve added it to ends up tasting like dirt. A bit too earthy for my taste.

    Humbecue…you know I love it!

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