Healthy-ish

Strawberry Kale Salad with Fresh Serrano Peppers, Pumpkin Seeds & Poppy Seed Dressing

An Unexpected Twist On A Simple Under-5-Minute Salad
May 15, 2022
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > 30 Minute Meals

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Strawberry kale salad with jalapenos, pumpkin seeds & Poppy Seed DressingStrawberry kale salad with jalapenos, pumpkin seeds & Poppy Seed DressingBaby kale salad with strawberries, pumpkin seeds & more via waitingonmartha.com

Lets be honest, salads can be boring.  So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make.  Enter my Strawberry Kale Salad with Pumpkin Seeds, Serrano Peppers and Poppy Seed Dressing.  

This four-ingredient Strawberry Kale Salad allowed me to get a little creative with my ingredients and almost fooled me into thinking I wasn’t actually eating a salad!  And it never hurts when the salad is this gorgeous. 

Nixing plain greens for baby kale with a touch of spinach, freshly sliced strawberries, pumpkin seeds, and fresh jalapenos for kick was the perfect combo.  The balance of flavors—sweet to spicy—and the textures—crunchy pumpkin seeds to the soft strawberries—is absolutely divine…even coming from someone who can’t always be satisfied with just a salad. I do wish I had some herbed goat cheese, that would have really made sealed the deal.

And with a salad like this one, I always love a good poppy seed dressing.  The tangy citrus flavor and thick consistency cool down the heat from the serranos, and pair perfectly with the fresh strawberries. Now I know not everyone likes heat, so in hindsight, I suggest putting the serrano peppers on the side for guests to choose if they want to add a little fire.  Since I wanted to keep this salad super simple and under-5-minutes-to-make, I opted to use this store-bought poppy seed dressing, though you can absolutely make your own!  Tell me, how do you think outside of the salad box?  Truly, MKR

P.S. Wouldn’t this make for a beautiful salad for an upcoming bridal shower?  I just love the pop of red and the fresh greens!  xo 

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Strawberry Kale Salad with Fresh Jalapenos, Pumpkin Seeds & Poppy Seed Dressing

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 1 minute

Total Time: 6 minutes

Yield: 4-6

Ingredients

  • 2 bags baby kale and arugula mix
  • 1 pint fresh strawberries, sliced thinly
  • 1 jalapeno, sliced or diced thinly
  • Handful of pumpkin seeds, to garnish each salad
  • Candied pecans, finely chopped (optional)
  • Herb goat cheese, molded into small crumbles (optional)
  • Dressing of choice (I used store-bought poppy seed!)

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
  2. Pour dressing, toss and serve!
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Baked Spaghetti Squash Boats

Squash season's star makes for a healthy, easy weeknight dinner the whole family will like
September 28, 2020
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > Everyday Dinner

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spaghetti squash
baked spaghetti squash

It’s officially squash season! And while I’ve made spaghetti squash practically every way possible (hello lasagna), my new favorite is via boats. Or rather Spaghetti Squash Boats. An easy, healthy, and most importantly flavorful recipe I’ve been making nonstop lately.

Think of this Spaghetti Squash Boat recipe like the loaded baked potato of squash recipes. You can come up with 100 different combos (vegan, vegetarian, or carnivore) and because spaghetti squash has the tofu-like ability to take on whatever flavor you’re cooking it with you’ll likely ace it every time. My husband who won’t touch squash with a ten-foot pole loved this dish so much he warmed it up for lunch the next day and even asked if we could try a buffalo chicken riff next time.

This Spaghetti Squash Boat recipe is also a big win because it’s deceptively healthy by allowing you to stuff it full of veggies and because of how melty the cheese becomes with the actual use of very little cheese. The other key to making your squash boat pack a true punch is the building of flavors through sauteing the sausage, garlic, onions, and veggies in the same pan.

And as if you needed another reason to try Spaghetti Squash Boats, bonus points if you’re a Sunday meal prepper because by cooking the Spaghetti Squash ahead of time this truly turns into a 30-minute meal.

Print the recipe out below and try it for yourself. And don’t forget to tag us on Instagram with whatever Spaghetti Squash Boat combo you created. Truly, MKR

Spaghetti Squash Boats

Mandy Kellogg Rye, Waiting On Martha
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 1 hr
Course Main Course

Equipment

  • Sheet Pan
  • Saute Pan

Ingredients
  

  • 2 Spaghetti Squash
  • 4 Sasuage Links (Chicken, Pork or Turkey. I prefer to use Andouille Turkey Sausage when possible).
  • 2 cups broccoli rough chopped
  • 2 cups asparagus cut into 1" pieces
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 3-4 cloves garlic finely chopped/diced
  • 1 bag shredded skim mozzerella cheese
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • red pepper flakes (optional)
  • olive or avocado oil for sauteeing

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
    Cook spaghetti squash face down on a baking pan lined with tin foil until cooked through. Approximately 30 minutes. Once cooked fork out the squash carefully into a large bowl reserving the spaghetti squash skins for baking. **This can be done up to 2 days in advance**
    While the squash is cooking, heat a large saute pan over medium/high heat spray non stick spray and add olive oil. Once hot add sausage, crumbling and cooking through. Once cooked remove and set aside.
    Place the pan back onto the heat and spray if needed again. You want the sausage oil reserves to stay in the pan for flavoring. Add onions and garlic cooking 2 minutes or until browned and tender. Add broccoli and asparagus. If frozen cook until warm/hot, if raw cook until softened.
    Add spaghetti squash and sausage back to the mixture with salt, pepper, red pepper and 1/4 cup of the cheese until combined and melted.
    Add skins back onto the sheet pan and spoon mixture back into the squash skins like a twice baked potato. Cover with remaining cheese and bake until cheese is fully melted.
    Remove and enjoy.

**If you choose to make the spaghetti squash beforehand make sure when you add It back to the pan mixture that it Is fully warmed through. When putting the boats back in the oven the mixture should be fully cooked through, you're simply adding it back to the oven to melt the cheese.**

    Photography Rustic White Interiors

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    4 DIY Immunity Boosting Tea Recipes to Try Today

    Simple At-Home Recipes to Ease your everyday stress, detox & give your immunity a boost
    April 19, 2020
    Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
    Filed Under > Everyday

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    4 Detox Teas to Try, Waiting on Martha

    One of the best things you can do for your body and more specifically your immunity, is support its natural detox system.  Yes, that’s right; your body knows how to do it well on its own.  But the bonus here is that there are simple concoctions and DIY immunity boosting and detox tea recipes that can help your body get the job done even better, and kickstart healthier habits in general.  

    After finally settling into a routine at home over the past month, I’m setting out to sip on these DIY immunity teas at home every night.  I’m thinking of it as a treat I’m giving myself to feel better from the inside out.  See, the teas—with their rockstar ingredients like dandelion root, cerasee, ginger, green tea and more—can do more than rid the body of harmful toxin buildup; they give you increased energy, stronger immunity, and even stress relief. That being said, herbal tea is one of my favorite ways to detox because it’s a simple, soothing addition to my daily routine, and it’s known to work wonders for the mind, body and soul.  Seriously, how good is settling into bed with a cup of hot tea in-hand especially with a slice of raw honeycomb to add a little bit of natural sweetness to my cup.

    Check out the four easy recipes below, and tell me which DIY immunity boosting tea is calling your name!  And if DIY isn’t your thing, check out a few of our favorite teas you can get delivered to your door.  Truly, MKR

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    Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Tea

    Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

    Shop Now >

    In case you didn’t know, apple cider vinegar has an incredible ingredient called the “mother.” Not only will it help your detox, its countless health benefits can help cure even pretty serious ailments, and it can help you feeling better ASAP when you’re feeling under the weather. 

    When using apple cider vinegar to detox in particular, you have to drink it; this easy detox tea makes it easier to go swallow. Drink this detox tea before meals for maximum benefits.

    APPLE CIDER VINEGAR DETOX TEA
    Ingredients    :
    1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 
    1 teaspoon organic, raw, local honey
    1 teaspoon lemon juice (freshly squeezed) 
    1 cup hot water 

    Directions:

    Boil the water and allow it to cool off a bit before adding the other ingredients.
    Mix in the apple cider vinegar and the raw honey.
    Add roughly a teaspoon of lemon juice.

    Dandelion Root Detox Tea/Water

    Lakewood Pure Cranberry Juice

    Shop Now >

    Here’s a play on an excellent detox recipe that’s been popular for years now; a simple mixture of water, dandelion root tea and cranberry juice.  (Be sure to find the cranberry juice with NO sugar added.)  You won’t need to boil the ingredients, instead just mix them together and drink on a daily basis (one pitcher every seven days) to eliminate water weight. 

    DANDELION ROOT DETOX TEA/WATER
    Ingredients:
    60 oz. distilled water
    1 dandelion root tea bag
    1 tablespoon pure cranberry juice

    Directions:
    Mix the water, cranberry juice and lemon juice together.
    Add the dandelion root tea bag after.

    Green Tea Detox

    Yogi Teas Super Antioxidant Green Tea

    Shop Now >

    The MVP of natural detoxing is definitely green tea.  Green tea doesn’t detox toxins all on its own (your body has a pretty good system to do that), but it is packed with the natural polyphenols that support the body when it’s detoxin’. Polyphenols have a direct impact on your liver (the body’s major detox organ), and they’re antioxidants that fight free radicals. 

    This detox tea is incredibly easy to mix up; simply add honey and lemon to your steeping green tea. 

    GREEN TEA DETOX
    Ingredients:
    1 slice lemon
    1 green tea bag
    1 teaspoon honey
    8-10 oz. water

    Directions:
    Brew the green tea bag in the 8 to 10 fluid ounces of water.
    Add the lemon slice and honey.

    Cerasee Detox Tea

    Caribbean Dreams Cerasee Tea

    Shop Now >

    Cerasee leaves are grown in Jamaica, and known to be an excellent herb for your blood and has many overall health benefits. It has a bitter flavor and aroma, but it is an excellent source of calcium, iron, carotene, phosphorous, vitamin C and vitamin A.

    The tea is known to protect your body from cold and flu symptoms, as well as headaches, stomach pains, fever and abdominal pain (including menstrual cramps). The leaves work to eliminate toxins, treat parasitic worms, liver conditions, skin problems and give constipation relief. 

    CERASEE DETOX TEA
    Ingredients:
    Cerasee leaves with vines (or cerasee tea)
    Ginger
    Water
    Raw honey

    Directions
    Boil the cerasee leaves and ginger in water. If you don’t have the leaves, boil water for the cerasee tea bags to steep, adding ginger once boiling.
    Add honey and enjoy.

    Photography, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha

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