I absolutely love the work I do each day; given the choice, I wouldn’t pick any other field, which feels pretty awesome after following an unexpected, winding path to get here. (When I started the blog way back in 2008, I had just graduated with a Master’s degree in Social-Personality Psychology and was working as a researcher.) If I could take on a few more big projects right now, I would in a heartbeat because lately the inspiration never stops! It seems like Eric and I discuss new ideas every week. If you’re curious, some of the ideas include: creating cooking videos, redesigning the blog, opening a cafe or juice/smoothie bar and delivery service, creating a meal plan service, writing a children’s book (seriously!), starting an apparel line, growing our recipe app, taking food photography courses, and the list goes on and on. But then reality sets in and I know my priority has to be keeping my head above water, and not biting off more than I can chew. So lately, I feel like I’m in this confusing place with my career. I’m decent at judging how much I can take on, but still find myself yearning to do more and lagging behind the speed of my dreams. This passion makes it easy to feel like there isn’t enough time in the day. Throw motherhood into the mix, and it’s even more of a juggling act; my parenting and self-employed roles are 24/7, always on call, with problems popping up just when I think things are going smoothly. There are big highs and lows, often in the same day. This is part of what makes life so rewarding though, and it fuels me to want to improve—or at least on the worst of days, to work on my patience and practice a bit more self-compassion.
As I mentioned in a recent post, Eric and I have talked a lot about whether we should take the next step and grow—such as by hiring a small team—although it feels almost as daunting as it does exciting. That said, I hired an editorial intern earlier this year, and it’s worked out very well! Part of me now realizes that a whole team of inspiring minds would be something absolutely amazing, but I guess I don’t know how to make that happen with a second baby, book, and renovations all happening this year. When is the right time, and is there ever a right time? Or, do I simply accept what I often read: that my career is destined to be in “maintenance mode” for the time being as a new parent? Do I dive in headfirst or start small and take baby steps along the way? I’ve been following the latter approach for years; even though it feels right to my practical mind, I get impatient at times.
There’s no real point to this thinking out loud today, other than to share what’s on my busy mind, and to remind myself that this journey is a work in progress. And it will always be. Maybe you are struggling with similar questions or wondering how to juggle various priorities in your life, too. We’re all doing the best we can each day, trying to make good decisions; they don’t always work out, but some will exceed our wildest expectations. It often feels like other people are doing more or growing more (a feeling that the internet seems to multiply a million times over!), but they’re probably feeling just as confused and taking it one day at a time like most. At least, that’s what I like to tell myself! Plus, I’m a firm believer that life isn’t a competition; we can build each other up to achieve success, no matter how we personally define it.
“But if you don’t have the courage let’s try to get you some. Because creative living is a path for the brave. We all know this. And we all know that when courage dies, creativity dies with it. We all know that fear is a desolate boneyard where our dreams go to desiccate in the hot sun.”
Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic (2015)
When my brain is running a mile a minute, simple meals are where it’s at. Especially in the summer. That’s why I’m so excited to share this easy salad from the Love and Lemons Cookbook. I made a few small changes (such as omitting the mozzarella, increasing the balsamic vinegar, and swapping toasted pecans for sesame seeds). This salad is right up my alley, and I think it’ll be a new favourite for you as well!
I’m a big fan of Jeanine and Jack’s blog and their simple approach to cooking with seasonal produce. You can’t help but be inspired to eat more veggies when you visit their site. Their first cookbook, Love and Lemons: An Apple-to-Zucchini Celebration of Impromptu Cooking, was released earlier this year, and it’s an absolute stunner from the design and layout to the food photography. Since the book is divided into chapters by vegetable (or fruit category like berries, citrus, and stone fruit), it provides plenty of vegetarian cooking inspiration when you just don’t know what to cook with that on-the-brink-of-death eggplant or giant bag of sweet potatoes you just impulse-bought at the store. Big congrats Jeanine and Jack!
Avocado Strawberry Caprese
Yield
Serves 2
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Meet your new favourite summer salad! This delightful combination of strawberries, avocado, basil, and tomatoes is tossed with a touch of extra-virgin olive oil, and drizzled with homemade balsamic reduction for a refreshing, lightly sweet salad that's great on a hot day. This recipe is lightly adapted from the Love and Lemons Cookbook (2016).
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup (80 mL) balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup (135 g) hulled and sliced strawberries
- 1 cup (160 g) grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium ripe avocado, pitted and diced
- 1/3 cup (8 g) loosely packed basil leaves, chiffonade cut
- 1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Pink Himalayan salt or fine sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Toasted sesame seeds or chopped pecans, for serving
Directions
- In a small saucepan, bring the vinegar to a simmer over medium heat. Once the vinegar starts to simmer, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 6 to 10 minutes, uncovered, until the vinegar thickens, and reduces in volume by half. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, add the strawberries, tomatoes, avocado, and basil into a large shallow bowl.
- Drizzle on the oil and gently toss until the veggies are coated. Season generously with salt and pepper and toss again just briefly.
- Scatter on your desired amount of toasted seeds or nuts. Drizzle on all of the balsamic reduction.
- Serve immediately. This salad is definitely best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for a few hours if necessary.
Long-time reader here! Five years ago, your blog taught me how to cook/bake, and I’ll always be grateful! This salad totally caught my eye. I was wondering, what would you suggest I add, protein-wise, to make it a full meal?
Hi Christine, I would say some marinated tofu would be lovely!! For a super quick option, chickpeas are always an easy addition, too. Hope this helps!
Wow, this looks amazing. Strawberries are a great addition! I think I’ll add candied pecans too! Thanks!
I hope you enjoy it, Sheryl!
Angela, I admire you so much for your ability to actually work towards your ambitions and not just dream about them. I find it so difficult to get projects going and stop feeling overwhelmed without knowing where to start. I can’t even imagine how much more challenging this is with a child (AND one on the way!). Do you have tips about how you manage your time and stick to deadlines that you create for yourself? What you do when you feel overwhelmed with ideas and don’t know where to start? Thank you for your inspiration :)
Hi Angela,
I really relate to your inner thought process. I once read that we can feel like we are behind in our own life or not doing enough because we compare our “behind the scene reel to someone else’s highlight reel (meaning what we see on the internet, in magazine articles or interviews). I have had to remind myself of this many times as a mother and business owner. I believe there will always be that “I could be/should be doing more with my life” inner voice. When that comes up for me at this time in my life, (my daughter is 18 and is about to go off to Europe to volunteer) I remind myself of the love I poured into her. I remind myself of the time and the sacrifice of choice I made for her, and the intangible impact of simply being present to her in as she engages with life: baking cakes together when she was three, pitting cherries from our tree for a pie when she was five, swimming in the sea at sunset or walking through the trees, reading her stories, endless chatter about what catches her curiosity to the deeply heartfelt…. Honestly, time with her and my husband, at the end of the day is the greatest purpose in my life. Loving them and loving others has pushed its way to the top of the list of what my life is about. And, I don’t say that lightly because I am a very dedicated and driven in regards to my career endeavors! :) There is so much that I want for myself as a woman and also as a business owner. There is so much I have done and wish to accomplish in those regards, yet when that “not enough” voice comes I now know that it is nothing more than self distortion. Best wishes to you, Carrie
Carrie, what a beautiful comment! It brought a tear to my eye reading about your relationship with your daughter. I couldn’t agree more. And I love the reminder that we tend to compare our “behind the scene reel to someone else’s highlight reel” – isn’t that the truth!
Also, please, please, do let us know if you decide to expand and hire a team because it would be absolutely amazing to work with you and contribute to such inspiring projects. There’s lots of talent out there ;) I’ve followed your work for a long time and have always kept an eye open for an opportunity when you might need outside help. If you ever need someone for editing, writing, recipe testing and creation, or anything else, I’m yours! xoxo
Hey Carolina, Thank you! I will definitely announce if we’re hiring in the future. :) You are so right there’s a ton of talent out there and we could do some pretty amazing things. As for managing time and deadlines, the thing that works for me the best right now (and it’s so simple) is to-do lists. I write a “weekly” goal list at the end of the weekend, and then daily to-do lists each morning (or night before). It makes me so much more productive and focused than I would be otherwise. I put long-term deadlines in my Google calendar with pop up reminders. Other than that, I’m really quite disorganized (such as email…laundry….my pantry, hah), and need to find some better systems in place.
I was just struggling with what to make for a get-together I have coming up. This is perfect!
That’s great, Melissa! I hope it’s a hit with everyone. :)
Hi Angela,
Ohmygosh if you opened a cafe/juice bar, I would travel from Halifax back to my home province of Ontario to eat there in a heartbeat! I always kind of wondered whether that was something you ever considered, and it’s super exciting that you have! I know you’ve got a lot going on already, of course, but it’s always fun to dream about the future!
Anyway, I just wanted to say I admire your drive and your commitment to following your heart and accomplishing so many goals! Your work has already inspired so many people on their way to healthy eating, and if that’s not something of immense value in this day and age, then I don’t know what is!
Emma, that is so sweet of you to say! Well, if it ever happens, I’d be honoured to have a fellow maritimer dine at my cafe. ;) Thanks for your kind words!
WOW! THE dreamiest of summer salads!!!
Hi Angela,
Beautiful-looking recipe! Can’t wait to try it…although I may leave out the avocado, as I am not a fan. I seem to remember AGES ago that you had asked readers to let you know of any say… incongruous ads on your blog. One of the ads currently showing up is a “steak planet” video that shows somebody making a steak recipe. Thought I’d let you know, just in case!
Thanks again for the recipes & inspiration!
THANK YOU so much for posting about our book!!
That’s such a great Elizabeth Gilbert quote – I can’t wait to see what you choose to do next :)
No problem at all, Jeanine! Thank you for creating such a beautiful book!
I remember my mother telling me when I was expecting my 3rd not to sign up for anything in my 2nd trimester that I would regret in my 3rd. Meaning that those few months in the middle after the first trimester cloud has lifted and you have a lot of feel good energizing hormones don’t start big projects without the long view in mind. Her advice ended up being very timely because my 3rd son was born with unanticipated health challenges that were all consuming for our family for a good 18 months. I guess the lesson that I learned is that a new baby is such an unpredictable life changer, I try to maintain the status quo for the 6 months before the baby comes and the 6 months after if I possibly can. This keeps family relationships the highest priority. Good luck!
That’s such great advice!! It’s so true that the 2nd trimester often brings with it more energy and aspirations (at least for me), and the 3rd tri and newborn phase is a huuuuuge reality check, lol. Still fun to dream, but I think it’s a good idea not to make huge commitments all the same. (This is coming from someone who is about to endure a summer of house renovations yet again in the 3rd tri….ughh, haha.)
Mmmmm wow looks good!
Izzy | https://plantbasedizzy.wordpress.com/
It’s great to read about what you have going on, your dreams and plans and “maybes”!
Just curious – what happened to the tea shop? It was on your site for awhile and it seemed to be getting going and now I don’t see it. Perhaps you decided to invest your time and resources into other pursuits.
Loving the photography lately – the food pops off the page!!
Keep up the great work.
Hey Ellary, We announced the closure of the tea shoppe last fall so we could pursue other projects (one of which was our recently released app). Thanks for your kind words about the photography by the way. I feel like I’ve been struggling with it lately so your encouragement is appreciated. :)
Hi Angela. I never comment because I know you are busy. But maybe you will read this and it will help you. I have been blogging since 2012 and I am at a good place right now. I have exactly same thoughts and conversations with my husband just like you. Same ambitions and I know I could do more BUT after I had my 2nd child my desire to spend valuable time and be present in my family’s life has only grown so much more. Way more than when I had only 1 baby. Now I had 2 and suddenly they needed me so much and I wanted not to waste any time. So, my future goals are a bit on hold. But youngest one is going to school in Fall and I am starting to see how in a few years I will get more done with my blog than just a keeping it in “a maintenance mode”. Honestly, that 2nd child was a big game change for me…Even discussing a web design change after they are in bed is tiring to me…and when they are not in bed is almost impossible LOL. I thought “oh, what’s a big deal. I already have one!”. It became different dynamics – me more busy with 2 kids, their interaction plus school and sports. But I wouldn’t miss it for anything. All the best with your decisions. Oh, and I do not follow much social media not to have any comparison thoughts.:) Fellow Canadian blogger.
Hey Olena, Thanks for sharing your experience! It sounds like you have a great approach with it all.
YES. I can totally relate to so much of what you wrote today. My husband and I are constant dreamers and project makers and are always talking about what comes next. We opened a vegan restaurant up in Sudbury last year, I released my second cookbook in January, I have a blog that I don’t pay nearly as much attention to as I would like and all this with a 3.5 year old and number 2 on the way in September! Oh, and just to add more to our plates we’re opening up a vegan coffee shop & bakery in the next month or two! It’s a crazy crazy time for sure, but isn’t it so amazing to do what you love and not work for someone else?! (That’s what I keep reminding myself of when I start to panic, lol)
Hey Jess, That’s so awesome! If I’m ever in your area I will have to pop in for sure. :) Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!
Thanks Angela, same to you with yours! And if you guys take a weekend roady north do be sure to drop me a line – would be lovely to say hello and sip some virgin margaritas on the patio together!
Beautiful! Can’t wait to try!
I just made this salad for lunch and it was delicious!!!!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it Mia! :)
Pertaining to comparing how fast your career path is moving or how much you have accomplished…I heard a wonderful quote the other day.
“The only reason to look in your neighbour’s bowl is to make sure they have enough”
On a tiny scale, I use this now in my daycare when the children check each others’ dishes and say it’s not fair that one has a bit more than another. On a large scale, it can apply to comparing your career or accomplishments to those of others.
Waiting on accomplishing a dream or idea can be so challenging, especially with the thrill of a new idea flooding you with anticipation! Maybe a happy middle…not just maintaining your career, but not going for it all at once. Which ideas fit in best with having a newborn? A toddler and a newborn is a beautiful yet exhausting time….! If you map out all of your ideas on paper, you may find that some of them lend themselves to helping with others…hiring a small team or one person to maintain current projects would free you up to start a new one. He/she could then maintain that project as well which frees you up to start the next. You have full creative control and execution but the maintenance is handled by your staffer. As the projects grow, so could your staff. Just a thought!
Hi Angela!
I’ve been a long time reader of your blog, and though I’m not vegan, I make many of your recipes. Perhaps I will be one day because I feel awesome when I eat only plant-based food. I will have to convince my husband to try it also. Some of my favorites include your overnight oats (all flavors) and your Best Shredded Kale Salad. I think I have a new favorite though. This Avocado Strawberry Caprese Salad is yummy! I didn’t even have sesame seeds to put in it, and it was still delicious! I also felt great after eating. I’m embarking on a new fitness routine and this salad was a perfect end to my healthy day.
Only after I finished my supper did I read this post and couldn’t believe how similar I’m feeling recently. I just resigned from my teaching job to pursue writing full time. I’m excited to actually slow down and do only one job (writing) rather than two for a while. I admire all you’ve done with your blog and your cookbooks. Keep up the wonderful work you do. You’re making a huge difference in people’s lives. Thanks for the awesome recipes!!!
Shannon Anderson
Please be very careful with yourself as you expand your business and your family. I worked 24/7 for many years–loved what I did, had 2 businesses, young children and elderly parents needing care. Eventually I hit the wall and developed fibromyalgia, a very nasty disorder.
The lesson learned is that you can probably do everything, for a period of time, but there will be payback eventually. Get help, prioritize, stay well. and enjoy your life; I love your food.
Looks delicious!!
Can I replace balsamic vinegar with apple cider, cant tolerate balsamic vinegar well.. :/ And what substitutes for strawberries you could suggest, I am allergic to them – used to have so many gut and digestion problems but recently found out about all my intolerances, especially yeast and allergy to strawberries and egg, at least now i am on the right path to get better! xxx
www.hairwonderfulday.com
Hi there, Do you mean what can you sub for the balsamic vinegar? I really don’t think there is a sub for that unfortunately as it’s a main component of the recipe. As for swapping out strawberries, I think you could have success with pitted fresh cherries or even blueberries!