Celebrate Memorial Day with Kale

by thesaladgirl

Try something new this Memorial Day weekend — add some kale into your greens.  Kale is actually a member of the cabbage family.  Kale is a powerhouse of nutrients.  One cup of kale provide 180% of the daily requirement of vitamin A, 200% vitamin C, and an amazing 1,020% vitamin K.  For the freshest kale, look for deeply colored, firm leaves.  Smaller leaves will be milder in flavor and more tender.  Leaves will vary in color from dark green to purple to deep red in color.  Store your kale in the refrigerator in a tightly sealed plastic bag (unwashed) for up to 5 days.

“Memorial Day Quinoa Salad” on page 43 of Pam Powell’s Salad Days. Photo by Paul Markert.

When you purchase your “greens”, it’s a good idea to buy organic.  Kale ranks #12,  Lettuce ranks #11, and Spinach ranks #5 on the list of produce with the highest pesticide loads according to the Environmental Working Group, www.foodnews.org.  For further research, you can also go to www.whatsonmyfood.com.

Buying organic or growing your own lettuce are good options to keep your salad healthy for you and the for the environment.  Lettuce is easily grown in a shallow container such as a window box.  Many varieties can even grow indoors throughout the year.  Plant seeds every 6-8 weeks to provide a steady supply of the freshest and most local greens around.  For further tips, check out www.gardenguides.com or www.organicgardening.com.

If you have a copy of Pam Powell’s recipe book, Salad Days, check out the “Memorial Day Quinoa Salad” on page 43 (see photo).  This recipe takes advantage of kale as well as having a protein kick with the quinoa.

Mix some of your kale into this Patriotic Picnic Salad that features Salad Girl Organic Blueberry Basil Dressing.

blueberries, red radishes and local blue cheese-yummy!

Enjoy your Salad Girl Organic Dressings responsibly :) and have a great Memorial Day weekend !
Recipe by Pam Powell
Article by Sarah Baron Sullivan

Savor Fresh Springtime Fava Beans :)

by thesaladgirl

Despite the name, fava beans are actually a member of the pea family with an appearance similar to lima beans.  They come in a large pod that is edible when the fava beans are very young.  However, as they age, the pods are inedible.

Organic Fava Beans at 7th Street Mississippi Market, St. Paul

Fava beans can be purchased dried, cooked and, fresh in the Spring. Fresh fava beans are best with raw salads.

When purchasing your fresh fava beans, look for pods that are not bulging with beans.  This indicates older beans with subpar flavor. Fava beans will require blanching prior to use to remove their tough skin.

Try your fresh Fava Beans tossed with cooked and cooled jasmine rice, a sprinkling of roasted sesame seeds, some mixed radishes, chopped mint, and Salad Girl Organic Honey & Ginger Dressing.

“Baby Greens and Fava Beans Salad” from page 48 of Pam Powell’s recipe book, Salad Days.  Photo by Paul Markert.

Another treat would be to sprinkle your fava bean onto fresh mache along with some raw walnuts, raw golden beet match sticks, and Salad Girl Organic Lemony Herb Organic Dressing.

If you have a copy of Pam Powell’s recipe book, Salad Days, you’ll find a wonderful “Baby Greens and Fava Beans Salad” on page 48 of the Spring Salads chapter (pictured to the left).  Salad Days is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  It is also available digitally for Kindles and Nooks.

Savor your Springtime Fava Beans !

 

 

Article and Photograph of fresh fava beans by Sarah Baron Sullivan

Salad Ideas by Pam Powell

Salad Girl at Mississippi Market Patio Party

by thesaladgirl

Come to the Patio Party at the 7th Street Mississippi Market on Saturday, May 19th, 11am-3pm !  You’ll enjoy live music, free popcorn, and delicious samples of some of your favorite local foods including Salad Girl Organic Dressing.

The Mississippi Market is located at 1500 W 7th Street, www.msmarket.coop .  They will also be having their annual plant sale, so you can pick up what you need to grow your own salads this summer.  :)

Hope to see you there !

Announcement and Photo by Sarah Baron Sullivan

Celebrate Mother’s Day with Salad Girl :)

by thesaladgirl

This Mother’s Day weekend enjoy a free sample of Salad Girl Organic Dressing at one of the following locations (a couple spots will also have Salad Days recipe books available) on Saturday, May 11th:

Seward Co-op in Minneapolis, MN,  11am-2pm  (Salad Days books available for sale)

Whole Foods Market in Milwaukee, WI, 10am-2pm

Whole Foods Market in Omaha, NE, 10am-2pm

Whole Foods Market in Hinsdale, IL (ChicagoLand), Noon-4pm will be hosting a Momma’s Day Brunch in the cafe featuring Salad Girl Organic salads (a limited quantity of Salad Days books will be available)

One of my favorite Mother’s Day gifts from my oldest son two years ago when he was 11 years old

Enjoy your Mother’s Day ! from us Moms at Salad Girl :)

Article by Sarah Baron Sullivan, Artwork by Nolan Sullivan

Dad & The Kids Make Momma A Salad!

by thesaladgirl

Just Imagine the look on Momma’s face when the table is set with flowers, napkins, and, of course, a beautiful hand crafted organic salad meal filled with all the healthy and beautiful organic foods that Mom loves! Fresh, raw organic veggies with fresh organic greens; raw, crunchy nuts; yummy bites of an all-ready prepared, natural, roasting chicken; fancy, delicious cheese; and Salad Girl Lemony Herb Organic Salad Dressing drizzled atop! This WILL certainly make Mom happy, and it’s really quick & easy for you and the kids to make, Dad :)  Enjoy!

Article, Recipe, and Graphics by Pam Powell

Salad Days Recipe Book Available !

by thesaladgirl

Pam Powell’s (aka The Salad Girl) recipe book Salad Days:  Recipes for Delicious Organic Salads and Dressings for Every Season is still available on-line with Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

In addition to the print version, Amazon has the digital version available for Kindle, and Barnes & Noble has the digital version available for the Nook Book.

Salad Days will delight you with over 90 unique, flavorful salads and dressings that you can handcraft.  If you’re short on time, Salad Girl Organic Dressings are always available to cut down your prep time.  Enjoy amazing seasonal salads such as a “Spring Marinated Asparagus Salad” (found on page 16), a “Mediterranean Roasted Beet Salad” (page 94) or a “Chipotle Caesar Salad” (page 150).

As always, Enjoy your Greens and your Salad Girl Organic Salad Dressing !

Article and Photograph by Sarah Baron Sullivan

Another Spring Treat: Pea Sprouts

by thesaladgirl

Fresh pea sprouts, the young leaves and tendrils of pea plants, are available at your local Farmers’ Markets, some of our local co-ops and grocers, or in your garden in spring and early summer.  They are usually harvested from snow pea vines.  I found mine last week at the 7th Street Mississippi Market (St. Paul).  If you purchase them as I did (see below), you can snip the top 2-6″ off for salads and continue to let them grow (see growing tip resources below).

When purchasing or harvesting pea sprouts, choose fresh, crisp shoots that include the top pair of small leaves (tip), delicate tendrils attached to the young stem, and maybe a few larger leaves or even blossoms. Pea sprouts are fragile and best used within one to two day of harvesting. They are a good source of vitamins A, C, and K and have a crisp, sweet, fresh pea flavor.

So far, my favorite flavor combination has been to mix a small handful of pea sprouts in with organic spinach, California organic blue berries, Mount Sterling Creamery (Wisconsin) raw goat milk mild cheddar cheese, crumbled roasted almonds, and Salad Girl Organic Blueberry Basil Dressing.

If you’ve got a copy of Pam Powell’s recipe book, Salad Days (available online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble), there’s a wonderful, springtime “Pea Sprout and Strawberry Salad” with a Strawberry Rhubarb Vinaigrette on page 26 (pictured below).  If you don’t have time to make the vinaigrette, Salad Girl’s Organic Savory Strawberry Dressing would be a delectable substitute.

"Pea Sprout and Strawberry Salad" from Pam Powell's recipe book, Salad Days (page 26). Photograph by Paul Markert.

Grow Your Own Salad —  If  you’re interested in growing your own pea sprouts, the Oregon State University Extension Service is a good source of information as well as SproutPeople.  Here are the links:  http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/secrets-pea-shoots-detailed-extension-gardening-booklet and http://www.sproutpeople.com/seed/print/peashoot.html respectively.

Enjoy your greens and your Salad Girl Organic Dressings !

Article and Photo of Pea Sprouts by Sarah Baron Sullivan

Try Our New Flavor ! Salad Girl Organic Honey & Ginger

by thesaladgirl

Salad Girl Organic Salad Dressings is excited to announce our new flavor, Honey & Ginger, is now available !! This fresh and snappy dressing will offer a soft and sweet Asian accent to fresh organic greens, grains, rice, noodles, and meats.

Kowalski Markets  and many of our co-ops in the Twin Cities have it in stock.  If your favorite supplier of Salad Girl Organic Dressings does not have it yet, ask your produce manager to place an order.

Below, you’ll find a recipe for an amazing Honey & Ginger Asian Party Salad that is straight from the label of our Honey & Ginger bottle.  You’ll also find our Honey & Ginger dressing mentioned in “The Delectable Radish” article that was posted on April 18th.

 

Keep checking back as we highlight more Spring ingredients and more delicious ways to use Salad Girl Organic Dressings.  Look for Pea Shoots in the spot light next week, and watch for a wonderful Early Kale Slaw in a week or two.  Thank you for enjoying and supporting Salad Girl Organic Dressings.  We’d love to hear your feedback on the new flavor :)

 

 

Photo and Recipe by Pam Powell

Article by Sarah Baron Sullivan

Enjoy Salad Girl at New Whole Foods Market in Edina

by thesaladgirl

This Saturday, April 28th, Salad Girl Organic Dressing samples will be available at the new Whole Foods Market in Edina, Minnesota.  From 12:00-4:00 pm the store will be holding a Local Fest.  Following is the store’s description of the event:

“Join us for some local flavor at the Whole Foods Market Edina Local Fest! As you travel through the store, stop by and meet some of our favorite Minnesota producers. This is a terrific opportunity to taste local food and meet the people who produce it. While you’re here, be sure to sign up for one of our local flavor gift baskets. See you there!”

New Whole Foods Market in Edina, Minnesota

The new Whole Foods Market is located at 7401 France Avenue South, 952-830-3500.  Hope to see you Saturday :)