Monday, February 11, 2008

Salad is a basic thing.

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I try to eat healthy during the week so I can binge on weekends. No, I don't have a disorder, but if I ate the way I want to every day I would have an ass the size of Ganymede. So I eat a grip of salads. Tonight I lovingly reheated the leftover pulled pork for the Hubz and treated myself to a microscopic garden burger. Scott actually remarked that I made a frowny face when I looked at my stupid tiny burger compared to his perfect sammich. But I tell you one thing, I can make the shit out of a salad.

Salad is such a basic thing that it doesn't even really warrant a post, but I'm finnuh try and get something new up every day, just as a disciplinary measure (practice makes perfect!). So here's a photo of the lovely salad I made.

Man, lemme tell you something. Cutting the supremes out of a blood orange is really fucking futile if you didn't just have your knife sharpened last week. It's a damn good thing I did, else I'da ended up with a handful of purple pulp and angry juice dripping down my elbow. Since my paring knife is due for its turn at the cutlery guy, I ended up having to use my huge chef's knife for the job.

And by the way, next time you're at Ikea, check out the food section. I don't mean the cafeteria, I'm talking about the little Swedish grocery they have there. I picked up some great cheese called Morfars Brännvinsost - an aqvavit-soaked Prästost. It's an aged white cheese that tastes a bit like a sharp, crumbly Jarlsberg. Perfect with a citrusy, sweet fruit.

So I grabbed a handful of mixed baby greens, shaved some Ikea cheese on, and topped with the blood orange supremes and pine nuts. Dressed with a drizzle of walnut oil, good balsamic and some Maldon (yes, I drop $6 for a box of salt - it's like eating diamonds and it is worth it) and cracked pepper, and you're eating simple perfection.

I made my own aqvavit once, but didn't like it very much. Maybe I should try my hand at
Morfars Brännvinsost.

12 comments:

Peter M said...

Ahhh yer salad is okay! lol

The salad actually sounds good, your using quality ingredients and I do want to now try this Eurotrash cheese from IKEA.

I'm also learning DooDoo-isms with your unique Patois...must be a Portland thang!

Judy@nofearentertaining said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Judy@nofearentertaining said...

I am having the worst time with blogger comments right now!!! (hence the deleted post!)

Your salad looks great!!! I love the nice, fresh looking colors with the blood orange and cheese! I don't have an IKEA near me but I still would never have thought that they sold cheese???!!!

Heather said...

Peter - it's not a Portland thang, it's an "I make up my own written vernacular" thang. :)

Judy - I was just as surprised as you to see cheese at Ikea! I think a white cheddar would come pretty close.

Núria said...

I'm an Ikea fan too! Only bought cookies once... but if we talk about furniture and kitchen aids... I loooooooove it!
When I follow a diet I do the same thing, during the week there's lots of salads and mineral water and the weekends it's beer time and big size dishes!!!!

Sagari said...

yummy salad

Heather said...

Nuria - Half of my house is furnished in Ikea. I love that place.

Sagari - thanks for dropping by! Salads are great, aren't they?

Glamah Girl - I promised my husband that I'd at least wait until after we have kids before I "let myself go." (haha)

cookiecrumb said...

There is enough salt (of various types) in my pantry to last me until I die. Even so, the Maldon will be replaced in kind, as necessary. Fun in the mouth.
(I bought frozen Ikea meatballs. Yikes, good!)

Emily said...

I love salads. For me, it's like something that I have to have everyday.
I don't feel healthy without it. It fills you up, too.

I'll have to try the Maldon.

Heather said...

I like the Maldon on caramels or on chocolate ganache. Just a little bling on something sweet is nice.

Thistlemoon said...

I freakin love salads. They are my favorite things to make sometimes. You can get so creative and it is just soooo good!
We don't have an IKEA around here- but if they have Norwegian Brunost (Brown cheese) I suggest you get some.

Laura Paterson said...

I LOVE the groceries at Ikea - always stock up on the meatballs too - perfect for chucking into pasta/pizza/stew types things mid week!

No good with salads though. By the time I've picked a treat to go with it (i.e. mounds of creamy feta) and drowned it it dressing - I'm usually only 10 calories off a burger...!