my favorite kale salad

There is a time for brownies, but that time is not today.  After a few weeks of pretty indulgent food (Jazzfest and all the Cajun, Cinco de Mayo and soooo many margaritas) I need to step up my healthy game this week.  Which means kale salad.  

I actually looooove kale salad.  I have no issue eating it instead of a sandwich and french fries, and it takes very little work to put together.  

Here is my favorite recipe: 

Serves 2

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp champagne or white wine vinegar

3 mashed garlic cloves

1 minced anchovy (not required, but I like them!)

dash of coarse salt

pinch of red pepper flakes

1 bunch of kale, any type

1/4 cup shredded parmesan, and a few shavings for the top

1 tbsp breadcrumbs

1.  In a large bowl, whisk olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, garlic cloves, anchovy, salt, and red pepper flakes together to make the dressing.  

2.  Add kale and toss to coat it.  Let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes or so.  This softens up the kale and takes some of the bitterness out.  

3.  Add grated cheese and breadcrumbs just before serving, topping with a few shavings.  

Note: you can refrigerate this until it's cold again before serving after step two, but I don't mind it a bit warm.  This also keeps in the fridge for about two days.  

more beautiful than we think

love this new campaign from dove.  so true.  

Oh, Monday

My weekend looked a lot like the pictures above, and I'll be honest, I'm pretty sad it's over.  Today is all about work, working out, and hoping it doesn't rain anymore.

But in the interest of optimism, here are a few things making my Monday today.

Cooking dinner has been pretty fun lately, since most of my favorite things are back in season.  The Honest company put up a great list of the best that's available now.

It has been consistently warm enough to have the windows open for a week now.  Enough said.  

I've been wearing this perfume ever since I picked up a rollerball last week, and its smell literally puts a smile on my face every time I catch a whiff.

This quote describes my work really well.  Also, I think it's incredibly true in general.

Okay, I know it's far away, but I'm already thinking about making this drink on Friday!

now playing

park walks

When spring rolls around, evening walks are just the thing.  We have a labradoodle (ridiculous name I know, but he's incredibly smart and doesn't shed!)  He needs walked BADLY or otherwise he goes a little insane in our living room, so the warmer weather is making him a very happy puppy.  We moved into the Shaw neighborhood of St Louis in November and obviously didn't get much time to spend outside around the neighborhood, so we have been loving finding out how awesome it is.  We have a gorgeous park 4 blocks from our house and tons of amazing restaurants nearby.  When we went on our after dinner walk to the park Monday night I ditched the cell phone and took my camera to get some better pictures than my usual iPhone snaps.