Sunshine On A Plate

To continue the sunshine theme, I wanted to share my Sunshine On A Plate salad that I just had. All with ingredients from this little local market of love. The market that puts the sunshine, in your life, weekly!

I had a Sunday hair appointment, because thankfully, my hair girl opens her salon on Sundays, for girls like me, who only have about a nano second of time to give to a luxury like hair. But, also, a Sunday appointment gives me a quiet salon, with piped in music, and a whole lot of zen…

But, this post is not about me, my hair, or my hair salon…

I just needed to paint the picture. After my appointment, I was starving. Like, so starving, I could not think. I get like that. I will get busy, and forget to eat, and then I am that crazy, get out of my way hungry.

I raced home, and made a huge salad, that resembled the sun, and as I was eating it, I noticed that it had been made, using all items from your lovely vendors/growers…

I used a lettuce mix of romaine, and red butter from Davidson Family Growers. Peppers from Hippie and the Farmer. Peaches from Champaign Berry. Farm Cheddar Cheese, cut up, from Covington Cheese Company. Microgreens from Live Simply, Live Richly. And, a light drizzle made from a quick whisk of olive oil, a champagne vinegar, and a bit of maple syrup from Valley View Woodlands with a bit of cracked black pepper from Swisher Hill Herbs. I also sprinkled with a bit of red pepper flake that came from JC Growers, a while back.

The only other things that I added were a handful of walnuts, and a bit of corn that was cut off the cob, from Kroger, but only because Hippie and the Farmer corn is not quite ready, yet.

There you have it…a total salad of sunshine on a plate…and now, I have refueled with healthy food, I know where my food is coming from, it’s all local, and it was all so cost effective!! And, if you really want to make your week, easy, make salads in huge quantities, and store in grab and go containers.

To add more protein, you could get locally grown meats, right here,from Oakview Farm Meats, to grill or bake, and add to the top of this salad. You could get eggs from this market, from Oakview, Rocky Ridge, or Laughman’s, hard boil, and slice on top. There are any number of cheeses from both Covington Cheese Company, and Dugan Road Creamery, to add for taste delights.

You could even do any combination of produce, from Davidson Family Growers, JC Growers, Hippie and the Farmer, End Of The Road, Live Simply, Live Richly, and Vegetables by Olga Wright! Or boil/roast/grill potatoes from End Of The Road, to slice, and cool, and then add to this…

Madison Ling makes a granola bar that would be excellent crumbled, on top! The possibilities are endless!!

And, you could even get ready by washing your hands with one of the soaps from Elm Tree! Light a candle for your dining from Old Homefarm Candles! Brew a pot of coffee from Spotted Cow, to serve with a sweet treat from Littler Farms, GaGa’s Goodies, and Madison’s Gluten Free Baking! Or, enjoy your dessert with a glass of creamline milk, from Dugan Road Creamery. You may even want to stir a bit of honey in your coffee, to sweeten it, with local honey from both Lippincott Honey or Honey Boy Honey! Need to add toasted up croutons? Look to Cosmic Charlie for breads to go with, or breads for toasting into croutons! Perfect salad topper!

Maybe, you want to bake your own concoctions, and need flour from either Ella Bella, or Oberly Bros Farm!

And, while you are enjoying this whole lovely scene, don’t forget your furry friends…they would love to dine with you, as they enjoy their favorite treats from Kimmy Shark Creations!