Has a car ever passed you on your walk home and they’re blasting instrumental tunes, and the sun is shining perfectly through the trees, and everyone has a pep in their step because it’s Friday? This exact scene happened to me today, and it was delightful! For the three seconds someone else’s BMW drove past me, I felt like I was in a movie. And if you’re wondering if I was waiting for Alec Baldwin to round the corner or for a flash mob to break out in front of me, maybe Alec Baldwin in a flash mob? The answer is yes. Yes I was.

I also discovered we live next to a Labrador Retriever who walks around the block with a teddy bear in its mouth. Saw that little fella duck into his basement apt. right next door! If that wasn’t the most endearing thing I saw all week, then I don’t know what was.

I’m also not ashamed to admit this salad was another highlight of my week. Tell me you’ve never gotten excited over a meal, and I won’t believe you. I packed this bad boy for lunch three times, and if we’re being perfectly honest, I will likely eat it for at least two meals this weekend.

My secret with kale salads (please just skip this part if you and the whole world already know this) is to put your dressing directly on the kale first and foremost. If I’m packing it for work, I layer all the toppings on the bottom followed by the kale and then the dressing. If I’m at home, then I put the dressing on while I make the quinoa and cut up the fruit. The extra time the kale and dressing get to know each other softens the kale just enough to make even the world’s most avid kale naysayers ask for this recipe!

Happy weekend, friends. May all of us enjoy cars blasting instrumental music and the perfect amount of hair-blowing breeze all weekend long!

Summer Salad | Serves 1

Ingredients*

Handful of kale with the stems removed

1/2C of cooked quinoa

4 strawberries

Handful of blueberries

Sprinkle of walnuts

1/2 chicken breast

1/4 avocado

2T of honey mustard dressing

Directions

1. Mix and enjoy!

*I specified the exact amounts of each item, but it feels so silly telling you to only throw 4 strawberries on your salad. Put as much of each item as you want! Swap the walnuts for almonds! Or the honey mustard with balsamic! Whatever your heart desires! And also, don’t bother to wait for the quinoa to cool. This salad is best served with quinoa at any temperature.