Winner, winner…
Chicken dinner!
I mean… FRS Healthy Energy! A random winner has been selected from Tuesday’s giveaway…
Congrats!!! Send me an email with your address and we’ll get the trial pack out ASAP. 🙂
I’m going to keep it short and sweet because I cannot WAIT for you to read Kat’s post today… I hope you love it as much as I did.
BUT first I have to say I am so proud of the Supreme Court overturning DOMA. This was the scene in ATL today:
And here’s Kat!!!
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Summer Salads and Summer Mistakes
Sometimes we make mistakes. You might not know about it right away, but then it bites you in the ass later. Sometimes literally.
Many of you who read my posts frequently know that I am an avid trail runner. Many of the reasons for trail running involve self-exploration and challenging yourself. Many times it’s to find answers and get some therapy.
Really, it’s the one of the only ways I really know how to “work out” all the emotional/psychological stuff that comes my way.
I really, honestly believe this.
Other times you find yourself on a trail, learning things the hard way… like when you wipe with poison ivy. Yes, that happened! On the beautiful Pinhoti Trail, near Dalton, GA.
I have been suffering with poison ivy, and going to numerous doctors to embarrassingly reveal the damage.
Pinhoti
Just a preview of these awesome trails!
While my itchy body heals, I’m learning to laugh through painful situations that resulted from a very very very silly/stupid mistake.
(I’m sparing you the pictures, but I really wanted to post some! haha!) Editor’s note: I saw the pics… they were nasty and NSFW. LOL!
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In the meantime, as I plug along with bar review, I have been experimenting with some fun summer recipes, and I have two for you today!
The first is so easy I didn’t think to post about it at first, but it’s a fabulous easy, cheap recipe.
It’s extremely refreshing! It only lasts about 3 days in the fridge, but is especially good the first two days! It’s a great snack or accompaniment to any meal. I think it even can serve as a healthy dessert!
Summer Melon Cucumber Salad
- 1 Organic Honeydew Melon
- 1 Pint Organic Grape Tomatoes
- 1.5 Organic Cucumber
- 4 Sprigs of Mint
- 1-2 Tbsp mild Olive Oil
- 1 Lime
- 1 Diced Jalapeño (optional)
- Pinch of Salt
Cut the melon into cubes, cut the tomatoes in half, chop the mint, squeeze the lime, and toss it all together!
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The second recipe I want to share is the Hazelnut Curry Goat Cheese Balls that I made for Laura her first day home after surgery. (Editor’s note – this was AMAZING and I have Kat to thank for new-found my raw corn love.)
I tried it again a couple of days later, and it was just as good.
The whole meal only takes about 30 minutes to both prep, cook, and serve.
Hazelnut Curry Goat Cheese Balls
- 6 oz goat cheese
- 1/8 cup Hazelnut meal
- 1/8 cup premade Thai Curry Almond Seasoning*
- 1.5 Tbsp Coconut Oil
- Salad Ingredients
*Admittedly I bought the curry seasonings at Whole Foods, but you could easily make this yourself. I would actually recommend it, because the seasoning alone is a little salty. The curry seasoning contains almond meal, Thai yellow curry spices, dehydrated garlic, and dehydrated onion.
Preheat the oven to about 425.
Mix equal parts the curry seasoning with hazelnut meal.
Scoop 1-1.5 inch balls of goat cheese and press it into the mixture, and form a ball with as much seasoning as possible.
Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Repeat until you have made as many balls as you want!
Lastly, drizzle melted coconut oil on the pan and rolled the balls in the coconut oil.
Bake 12-15 minutes until they are brown. Don’t worry if they aren’t hard right away.
When I was at Laura’s, she also thought the avocados would taste good in the mixture, so I coated a few avocados and tossed them on the pan with the goat cheese.
Serve on a summer salad. I think they pair best with arugula, dried cherries, fresh corn, and tomatoes. I also topped mine with some avocado, a little olive oil, and used the rest of the seasoning as a topping!
The combination of textures and flavors was fresh, fun, and something you can definitely rinse and repeat more than once in the same week!
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I’m still stuck on Kat’s poison ivy mishap… I can’t even imagine!!! I saw pics… please send her healing thoughts!
What mistakes have you laughed about lately?
What is your favorite go-to summer salad recipe?
Oh you poor baby! As embarrassing as it is, I think it happens more frequently than you think (i know at least one other blogger who has done the same thing). The doctors probably think, “what, again?” Hope you feel better soon. I’m fortunate, my trails in the desert don’t have poison ivy (just rattlesnakes!).
Lol! Thanks. One doctor told me she hadn’t seen anything that severe. It was kinda comical. They told me I was the most interesting case in weeks! 😉
Rattlesnakes are scary!!!!
Oh gosh, I can’t imagine poison ivy! Dang that must have not been fun.
On the plus side, these salads look awesome as do the goat cheese balls. I miss my goat cheese…silly dairy.
You have trouble w/ goat cheese? Or don’t eat it because you are now vegan? Goat cheese has close to no lactose, as opposed to cow’s milk.
And yeah, the ivy.. phew.. so ultra aware now.. I will not make the same mistake twice.
Actually… Goat’s milk DOES contain about the same amount of lactose as cow’s, but cheeses made from both cow’s milk and goat’s milk contain less lactose due to the fermentation process. Many people who are lactose intolerant are able to eat cheeses… but if it’s a whey intolerance this won’t help you at all.
That said, some people do tolerate goat cheese better because its more easily digested.
Yes, and sadly when I got my allergy testing done – it came positive for a goat milk allergy. Sad times;)
Oh no!! I’m so sorry. Hope you feel better soon! That salad does look delicious especially the goat cheese!
Thanks! 🙂
I hope you check out the goat cheese recipe!
Every time on come over to your blog… I am always seeing some BALLS – I feel like there should be a WARNING squeeze page before coming here! AHH HA HA HA AH!!! Warning: Balls in your face if you click continue!
Lol!! We should have a “Warning, BALLS!” sign somewhere, at least. Lol! Thanks for the laugh!
Dude. No balls in the face. 😉
Oh I am sorry – I hope you feel better soon!
These Goat Cheese balls sound so good. And pairing them with cherries is so genius!
Yeah, I just use google sometimes. I googled “pairing with goat cheese” and it suggested cherries and hazelnuts. BOOM! 😉
Ohhh… that IS smart!
Never knew that hazelnut meal was something you could actually buy. Guess I really need to troll around on the Bob’s Red Mill site to get myself up to date. Both salads sound delicious!!
Thanks so much! I found it at the whole paycheck, also known as “WholeFoods” but you can also probably make it with a good food processor. So delish!
Oh no! That is awful and painful! I feel like that’s totally something I would do too!
The meal you made for Laura looked amazing! I know she was so happy to have to come over too. I love a huge grilled veggie salad during the summer. It seemed like we were grilling constantly and now we’ve been so busy that we haven’t pulled the cover off the grill in weeks! I need to change that now.
Lol! Thanks for the empathy! Glad to know I’m not alone. I always recognize the small poison ivy, but these leaves were GIANT.. like 9 inches long or something. seriously!!
Definitely pull the cover off the grill, or just make fresh raw food. I kinda want to grill some cedar plank salmon though.. smoky grill + cedar. Yum.
That melon cucumber salad sounds great. Simple is perfect for summertime!
Thanks! I really do stuff like that all the time, and never think to post about it!
YOUCH!!!! And Laura… you and the ball recipes!!! lol this one looks AWESOME – i’ve been loving goat cheese lately!!
The goat cheese balls ARE awesome. Thanks! Goat cheese on EVERYTHING. Can’t go wrong. I have even been crumbling some honey goat cheese into my popcorn lately. So good.
LOL! I am so disappointed in myself – I didn’t even thank about that when I shceduled the post. I missed so many joke opportunites. #fail
I love summer salads, I could def see myself making this one next week 🙂 Ill let you know how it turns out!
Yes! Please do! And don’t forget the corn! YUM!
Mmmmm, honeydew. Wish I was a better picker-outer at the market though, my honeydews are never ripe when I cut them up – boohoo!
If you are at a farmer’s market, you can usually ask for help. It has to do w/ the sound of the knocking on it- the more “hollow,” the better. The harder/less hollow-sounding, the more likely it’s under ripe. Also, look for organic ones. At this time of year, the organic melons are almost always perfect!!
The color is also important – look for a golden or light yellow. If it’s too white or green it isn’t good. You can also sniff the spot where the melon was attached to the vine. The stronget the scent, the better. Last, press down on the vine spot. It should be firm but not hard, but too soft means it’s gone bad.
That is one thing I have never had and hope to never have! Ouch! But yum to the salad!
You probably won’t ever have it unless you make a really silly mistake! 😉
Oh gosh – you both need to recover stat! The goat cheese balls look marrrrrrvelous!
Thanks!!! We are on the mend! Hope you try out the goat cheese balls. YUM!
Jenn likes balls. Or so I hear.
Those balls look so good!
Hoping that poison ivy goes away soon!
Thanks!
I’m so in love with goat cheese. I don’t know why I don’t buy it more often!
You should have the things you are in love with!
Glad you can laugh about your itching problem! Yikes, that is my worst fear! I love trail running it is sort of like yoga for the mind.
Yes, it is TOTALLY like yoga for the mind! 😉 It is so healing for me. A bad day? Let the crazies out on the trail, breathe, and get some peace! The itching is also getting better, thanks! And now I am HYPER aware of the ivy.. warning everyone I see.
I love the idea of running as yoga for the mind! So very true.
Those goat cheese balls sound absolutely awesome. I try to eat vegan most of the time. but when it comes to goat cheese…that is just hard to resist :).
I totally know.. sometimes it IS irresistible. Some of the daiya cheeses are REALLY good, but just not a sub. for real goat cheese. Thanks! 🙂
Oh no!! Poison is the worst! I had it in some not so pleasant areas before…not fun, but with medicine it cleared up pretty quick!
How quick did yours heal up? After my 2-3 doc visit, she said, “you should be feeling better within a week, and all better in about three.” I wanted to die. I’m still pretty itchy.
yea your sounds a lot worse, mine started getting better with in a couple days with antibiotics
Kat you had me at goat cheese. And balls. And I’m so sorry to hear about your ass. I wish it well and send thoughts of a speedy recovery.
Haha!! Your comment made me laugh outloud, and my friend was just like, “What’s wrong?!” 🙂 Thanks so much!
I snorted. LOL!
I love the idea of the goat cheese balls! And I just picked up local melons… great idea to put them into a summer salad.
🙂 Thanks! Yeah, the salad definitely makes it a bit more interesting!
Hazelnut Curry Goat Cheese Balls sound so amazing, I don’t know where to begin. Wow!
lol thanks!! let me know if you try them out!
I tried multiple times to get on here this morn to no avail so finally! 🙂
OK – I am so happy about the ruling yesterday!! If only they had not struck down parts of the civil rights voting avt the day before – this country need to find a way to separate church & state again & that means dumping all the idiots in there now or a lot of them! 😉 OK, rant over – for now but no guaranties later!!! 🙂
KAT – love her posts! I love that very first graphic – love!!! So.. OMG on the poison ivy! My sis got it real bad a few years back – SO SORRY!!! Love your pics though! 🙂
Is it bad I laughed at goat cheese balls! 😉
Lol! Thanks Jody!!! It is SO not bad that you laughed at balls. Let your inner 12-year-old out! I have to, to keep things light! 🙂
Sorry! I called and they said they were doing some maintence. Was NOT happy.
BUT I was happy with the DOMA ruling. And Kat’s balls.
goat cheese balls – YUM
sorry about the poison ivy – no fun!!!
Lol! Thanks. It is healing! Try the balls, they’re delish!
…pun intended.. hehe
Oh my gosh, Kat!! I can only imagine how frustrating/painful that can be! I try to be SUPER careful when I’m on the trails (like yesterday when I got lost for an hour…whoops?) since I’m highly sensitive to poison ivy…and I swear it always seems like it takes FOREVER to go away! Healing vibes definitely coming your way!
And dear me, these dishes look incredible! Love the combination of the honey dew melon with the veggies and seriously? I can’t believe I’ve never thought to bake goat cheese before…it’s my favorite!