This is how we create recipes when we don’t want to go shopping. This guest blog post is Kazden’s version of our favorite salad… we call it Yard Salad because almost everything in it is from the backyard.
Here’s Kazden… There’s nothing like the taste of freshly picked produce. I came up with this salad based on several salads I have seen my mom make over the years. On this sunny, spring day in the middle of April. Here’s what we had growing in our garden, pots and raised beds.
Yard Salad
- 6-8 cups chopped greens (mustard, collards, kale)
- 10-12 cherry tomatoes
- 1/4-1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs (mint, parsley, chives, cilantro, basil)
- 2 tablespoons hemp hearts (seeds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses
- 1 teaspoon ginger syrup
- Juice of one mandarin orange
- Juice of one lime
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Salt & fresh ground black pepper to taste
In a large bowl, mix greens with all of the above ingredients. As you mix the salad, the greens will become more tender. The salad should sit and marinate at least 15 minutes before serving. It is also good the next day if kept refrigerated.
Back to Tiffany…
This is a great time to do a few quick product reviews.
Trader Joe’s Balsamic Glaze: Love, love, love this product! I have been using it on salads of all types for almost a year now. It is so flavorful that there are times that balsamic glaze and a drizzle of olive oil are all I need on a salad. A friend suggested pairing this with pumpkin seed oil and that too, is a delicious combination.
Chef’n Kale, Chard, Collard Greens and Herb Stripper: At first I wasn’t convinced this was just a gimmick but it really does work well with some greens. I didn’t like it with smaller herbs as I usually just chop them up stems and all. It works well with rosemary but so does my hand. If doing a lot of greens, this would save time.
Shun Premier 5 1/2″ Santoku: This is the perfect size for a beginning chopper. Easy to handle, sturdy and sharp, I reach for this knife often, as do my boys. Teaching proper knife skills to kids can start at any age, the sooner the better.