Despite the fact that since returning to the States I haven’t had the desire to blog, I have the overwhelming desire to get back in the kitchen.  I have been elated to have a fully-sized, fully stocked kitchen at my disposal along with a personal dishwasher.  Thanks Mom. Additionally, after neglecting my  relationship with healthy balance for the past four months, I have been delighted  to throw some  healthy meals together and regain a little more control over my eating habits.

For me, cooking is a little like riding a bike.  If you haven’t done it in a while, it can feel a little strange, but before you know it, you are pedaling with the wind in your face and attempting to ride with no hands – or in my case, squeezing lemons, slicing avocados, simmering quinoa, adding cinnamon to everything, and discovering new ways to make oatmeal every morning.  Coffee in oatmeal?  Yes, please.

Alas, today, I am going to share with you one of my favorite, simple salad recipes idea.  Aside from the fact that I used to turn up my nose at a bowl of cold vegetables, I also thought that making salads was totally overrated.  I perceived salads as a chore that involved  chopping a zillion vegetables and the only reward was a bland, boring meal.  These days I find slicing vegetables to be cheap therapy, and I find a cold bowl of vegetables delectably delicious, especially on a hot summer day.  Plus, salads are the perfect outlet for creativity in the kitchen; the combinations of vegetables, fruits, grains, and dressing are endless.

Today, I topped arugula with quinoa, chopped artichoke hearts, blueberries, and Annie’s Lite Honey Mustard dressing.

In retrospect, I probably would have added some pumpkin seeds or cashews for a little crunch, a tad of saltiness, some extra protein.  Luckily, there is always a another salad.  However, I’m not telling you to make this salad (although I really did enjoy this combination).  Make your own salad.  Don’t be afraid to branch out and throw a few obscure ingredients in your next bowl of greens.  And if you are like I used to be and a little skeptical of salads, I promise they can be a delicious meal, and if you’re a little low on inspiration, you might want to try some raisins and corn nuts as a topping – I promise you won’t be disappointed (thank you Spain).

What is your favorite salad combination?  I’m always looking for new, tasty combinations.