Welcome to the Heat Wave of 2011. Are you melting too?
Today it’s supposed to reach 38C (100F)…and 47C with humidity! Humidity is such a party pooper. Anyone who lives in a humid climate knows what I’m talking about.
And the hair.
Oh my hair.
Just picture a tumbleweed in the Sahara that got struck by lightening and then jumped in a puddle.
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That’s my hair right now.
Sketchie did this when he saw me this morning. ahhh!
Thankfully, summer salads always look composed and pulled together no matter how hot it is. I love to grab some seasonal fresh fruit (or vegetables), greens, protein & grains, and mix it up with a homemade dressing. Presto magico.
Serving it with a huge margarita is highly encouraged.
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Heat Wave Summer Salad
Yield: 4 servings
Salad:
- 1 cup uncooked Speltberries (or wheatberries or other grain- makes 2 cups cooked)
- 1 15-oz can chickpeas (or 1.5-2 cups cooked chickpeas or other bean)
- 2 cups chopped peaches
- 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 cup blueberries
- 4-5 cups raw kale (or other green)
- 1/2 cup almonds, chopped
- Salt, pepper, and cinnamon, to taste
Dressing:
- 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1.5-2 tbsp pure maple syrup, to taste
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1/4-1/2 tsp cinnamon, to taste
- 1/4-1/2 tsp kosher salt, to taste
1. Cook one cup of dry speltberries (or wheatberries) in a pot with 3 cups water until tender (about 25-30 mins). Drain and place in large bowl with drained and rinsed chickpeas.
2. Meanwhile, sauté the kale leaves until tender. Chop the almonds, berries, and peaches. Place in bowl with chickpeas and speltberries.
3. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and adjust to taste. You may need more maple syrup or oil to suit your own taste buds. I like my dressing tangy! Pour dressing over salad and mix well. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Serves 4.
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After mixing together the chickpeas, speltberries, peaches, and berries…I felt something was missing…
Sautéed garden kale and chopped almonds did the trick. :) Of course, you can get creative with whatever you have on hand. There are no rules with salad making.
After mixing the Cinnamon Maple dressing, it all came together. Delicious and quite refreshing thanks to the summer fruit.
Ange = 1, Humidity = 647575
Hopefully kiddie pools don’t melt.
I’m going to come to Canada ans cat-nap Sketchie. Such a gorgeous/adorable kitty!!!
Your salad looks fantastic – it’s ridiculously hot down here in Georgia. I had to post a smoothie Top 5 today since that’s all I can stand to had post-run there days.
We have 80% humidity here in Florida…ugh!! Though we wont be as hot as you for a change- wow!!
Humidity tip for hair- if you saturate your hair with a smoothing serum (I use a generic one from Sallys) while it is still wet it doesnt let the humidity saturate it when its dry. Of there will still be a little frizzyness but it will not be nearly as bad :)
Wow, I have to make this , it looks so gooood!
What kind of cat is that?! I want one!!
Looks delish Angela! It’s 15 degrees and raining here in Ireland…but your salad will still taste good! :)
This salad looks lovely! Awesome recipe.
That salad looks delicious! I am going to make it as soon as I can! Love the fresh berries in it and kale – which is literally exploding in my garden right now!
Why, thank you, I believe I shall indulge…the sooner the better!
Hugs~
I know! It is brutally hot right? I am in Kitchener right now for work and it is no cooler here. I walked out of the cool hotel this morning to almost melt on the ground with the heat. I was actually shocked.
Honestly, that salad looks amazing! Pretty, colorful, low far and packed with flavors and health. Another yummy bookmarked for me, Angela.
Beautiful salad! This is exactly what we need with this heat.
Belated congrats on being nominated on Chatelaine. Voted for you! :)
You patriotic, maple loving, Canadian. JK New Yorkers love it too. That salad dressing looks fantastic!!
LOVE the idea of mixing fruit in! mmmm– very summery
My hair is in a permanent ponytail until at least September :P It is so hot! Sketchie is so freaking adorable! I want to squeeze and smooch him every time you post a picture. Gah!
The salad looks delicious!
Umm what? Heat wave? Where?! … Think you could send some of that heat over to the West Coast? Maybe Vancouver in particular? Please? I don’t know what’s up with our weather, but I feel as though the seasons this past year have just been: Summer –> Winter –> Fall. I don’t like having to carry a jacket around “just in case”… when it’s supposed to be summer! :(
Such a great idea to pair the more bitter kale with sweeter fruit. Looks like such a light, yummy lunch or dinner! I’m all over any recipe that features cinnamon as a key flavour. Thanks!
I heard on the news last night that BC has had no summer yet…. =(
That’s unfortunately very true! It’s too bad that we can’t steal a couple of degrees from your weather to knock it down a bit… and to bring ours up a bit. As much as a cold/cool summer isn’t particularly pleasant, a broiling hot one isn’t either – hope there’s some relief from the hot weather on the way for you! In the meantime, seems like you’re keeping cool with awesome recipes like this one. :) Stay cool! ( That sounds so lame, haha.)
Stay warm Jenny! haha
Meanwhile on Canada’s west coast we’re supposed to reach a whopping 18C today…. why can’t there be a happy medium?!
BTW, this salad looks amazing :)
That salad looks delish and refreshing!
I hear ya about humidity. It’s supposed to be 100F here today, but feel like 110F. ICK!!! Hope you can stay cool and dry today :)
I wish we had heat here! Just rain :( this looks super refreshing. Love fruit in salads.
This salad screams summer!! And it’s gorgeous. Love that first photo!! I think key lime donuts would pair well for dessert. You should head out our way…90* but dry as a bone!
oh this is a perfect summer salad. Very thirst quenching. Berries are a great addition. Its been 100 +F here so anything COLD and sweet is perfect!
I feel for you. The heat of your area was the lead story on the news here in B.C. today. ug. Hope you are able to get some relief soon.
It hasn’t even been cooling off at night! My company is having an energy reductino initiative because of how much it’s costing to use the A/C. Yikes!
We made your choc chip cookie blizzard last night. It was perfect for the heat – no oven required and a nice icy chill to it. Yum. Thanks!