Everyone has their weak food moments. I can tolerate the 10pm munchies, but when I’m at work, I need diversion, and eating a tossed salad with some bottled fat free dressing is the quickest way to get me to down a Reese’s cup, some ‘tater chips or some such other “quickie” fix. I need a little fat, a little sugar, something crunchy, and something spicy in my food to thwart the carbo-noid, so I created this salad, the ingredients for which can be bought weekly. Nothing but the lettuce need be refrigerated. The protein fills you up quickly, the fat makes you feel full, and the sugar contained in the balsamic vinegar and honey give you a little fix. Because I make this salad without benefit of a full kitchen, the measurements are approximate.
-Dish It Out Tsan
INGREDIENTS
2 cups-ish Romaine or other lettuce you like
1 handful (about 1/4 cup) almonds
1 big dollop (about 1/4 cup) prepared hummus
1/2 handful sunflower seeds
1 ripe pear
1/4 teaspoon flaxseed (optional)
Throw all ingredients into a plastic bag or wax bag, toss with a bit of dressing (recipe follows), and put ingredients on a plate.
You may wish to add a little extra dressing after it’s on the plate.
Salad Dressing (makes enough for several salads):
In a jar with a tight lid, shake together the following ingredients:
1 (sugar) teaspoon of dijon mustard
1 teaspoon (or squirt) of honey
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup good quality balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
notes: If you’re on Steve and Maya’s “raw” diet, you can get raw sprouted hummus from Whole Foods or Berkeley Bowl. Also, the dressing is great with baby carrots and celery sticks, and the like if you need a before-dinner snack.
