Florida Sunshine Salad

This salad was inspired by two of my favorite Southern eateries. One being The Floridian in St. Augustine, which is one of the best things to happen to St. Augustine dining, and the other being The Tupelo Honey Cafe in Asheville, NC, which I've only eaten at once but was so impressed that I bought their cookbook, which I highly recommend.

As with any salad the ingredients are fluid and can be mixed and matched with what you have on hand, but the staples that are absolutely necessary in my opinion are the strawberries, roasted beets, and spicy pecans.



I made this salad and ate it for 5 meals or so in a row, I just couldn't get enough. Best enjoyed with Spring weather on your front porch.


Florida Sunshine Salad

1/2 head green lettuce
1/2 head purple cabbage shredded into long strips
2 beets (I prefer golden but any color would be lovely)
1 sweet potato
10 strawberries
hunk of cheese ( both bleu and goat work wonderfully)
Spiced pecans (recipe below)
Pomegranate Vinaigrette (recipe below)


Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Peel and slice beets, toss with olive oil. Clean sweet potato. Roast beets and sweet potato until fork tender. About 20 min for the beets and 45 min for the sweet.

In a large bowl toss the vegetables with a generous splash of the dressing. Toss well, add 2/3 of the cheese and pecans and gently toss again. Serve topped with the remaining pecans and cheese.

Serves 4-6 as a side.

Spiced Pecans

1.5 tsp unsalted butter

1.5 tsp local honey

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon, nutmeg mixture (I used a baking spice mix by Penzey's)

1 cup chopped pecans

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add remaining ingredients and cook for 8-10 minutes, until caramelized. Remove from heat, cool, and store in airtight container in the refrigerator.

Pomegranate Vinaigrette

1/4 cup red wine

2 tbl pomegranate juice

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

1 tsp spicy or dijon mustard

1/2 cup grapeseed oil (Can substitute olive oil but I find the mild grapeseed oil to be the best match for less acidic vinaigrettes)

Combine first 5 ingredients and mix well. Slowly whisk in grapeseed oil. Or add all ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake vigorously to combine.

POTD Lost Track of numbers

I have mentioned this before but to any newcomers, I can be a flake. Now that I have made a general statement about myself I do not need to apologize for losing track of the days or not posting every day...right?!

Flattery gets you everywhere

Poor Mary Ann, my blogging neighbor, left Florida for Michigan a little early and ended up back just in time for an April snow storm! I am sure in August though she will be glad to be in Michigan and not in Florida's hot hot humid heat.

We are still enjoying a spring here in North Florida and while it is inching towards Summer in the sun, I am stretching this weather as long as I can and soaking up every minute I can on the porch or out exploring.

Good Morning

I recently bought two new camera lenses and have been trying to make an effort to use my camera every day. My friend Katy (who is a talented photographer) says practice makes perfect.

Here are my pictures from today, all shot with my new 50mm f/1.8:

Spring

Not to rub it in to anyone not residing in Florida but god this weather we have been having lately has been heaven. Everything is in bloom and, as of Sunday, it stays light until 7:30 pm so I can't think of a place I would rather be right now.

Cody making friends.

This is the most amazing scent ever. Meyer lemon blossoms!!

Spring Tease

I went from this:

(Zoom in to see the jellyfish that were washed into the intercoastal by a crazy spring tide)

To this:

It's like reverse vacation. Thankfully Spring has arrived in Florida.

Tick's Landing

Stoke's Landing

Nothing was biting, but not a bad view.

Worst fishing companion ever...tick infested pooch

Nana at Grampy's grave

VA Cemetery in Long Island, NY

St. Augustine

When I moved here I knew it was a place I enjoyed being but I missed a few things about Orlando (friends). The more I get to know this place the more I appreciate it.

I was watching a video about the Portland music scene and one of the band's said "If you like a place don't move there, create your own scene in your town" and I think that is the beauty of Saint Augustine. I feel like more and more people post undergrad are moving here and making it a place they want to be.

I am so inspired by all of the young business owners and new businesses that have opened in the last 6 months. There is a lot going on just since we have moved here that is making it even more appealing to stay. I would love to open a market where you can get seasonal baked goods, prepared foods, and quick bites to stay or go with a good beer/wine selection in the Antique uptown area I live in now. I think we are lacking a place for quick casual meals for locals and tourists alike in these two blocks. I know if I ever wanted to quit my job I could still see myself living here and trying it out for myself. So far from what I can tell everyone seems to be developing a good following and seeing their hard work pay off. If you come to St. Augustine there are some new happenings worth checking out including a used record store, the Floridian restaurant, Anchor boutique, The Conservatoire event planning and Ring of Fire the bar where you can get good cheap beer in a mason jar (all with under 35 business owners)

I have also met some rad people to be friends with and enjoy the vibe here.

I was supposed to be taking pictures with my phone, which I have been doing but I have not been putting them on here on a regular basis. I will try to make a conscious effort.

Cat and Taylor have a pretty sweet view

Savannah

North Carolina

This band is Disco Biscuits and I am sure 95% of the people in this auditorium were on drugs. They had crazy lasers and they only played one song for the entire 15 minutes I watched them play. Moogfest in Asheville was great for being able to drop in on bands you might never have seen otherwise.

"Yeah I used to skate"