greens for spring

It would seem that spring has sprung. Or at least, most people in Brooklyn are acting like it has. Yesterday, walking through Prospect Park felt a little like marching in an enormously jubilant parade of new babies and adorable puppies. 

It made me wonder: Where has all this life been hiding? And how did we make it from October until late April without it?

Regardless of how we all survived the gusts and chills of Winter, I think we're finally, almost, hopefully (I'm trying not to jinx it) in the clear. To show you how very pleased I am to see you and me and everyone we know out in the sunshine again, I've made you this salad. It's totally terrific and deliciously bright. I hope it will keep you company, as some of you are a few states away, or across the country, or around the globe. I might not make it to hang out with you today, as I'm not Santa Claus or, unfortunately, the Tooth Fairy. So throw this together, and hopefully it will give you a big, sunshiny taste bud hug for me.

And for goodness' sake, remember to wear your sunscreen.

-Kylie

Spring Arugula Salad

Serves two as a light lunch, or three as a first course

3 cups of washed, dried arugula (Trader Joe's sells it pre-washed in bags. It's not half bad.)

1 small, crisp apple like Gala or Fuji

1/2 cup salted pistachios, shelled

Dressing:

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Juice of half a lemon

1/2 tsp. mild dijon mustard, such as Maille

1/2 tsp. raw apple cider vinegar

A few grinds of black pepper

In the bottom of a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, vinegar and pepper. Add arugula to bowl. Core apple and cut it into quarters. Cut those quarters as thinly as you can into slices. Roughly shop most of the pistachios and throw them in the bowl, reserving about 15 for garnish. With tongs or two forks, gently toss salad until each leaf of arugula is nicely coated with dressing. Sprinkle remaining whole pistachios on top, and serve.

welcome home

I've realized in my short life that I never feel truly at home in a new house until I have a cup of tea there. 

Did I mention that we finally found an apartment? We did, and it was worth the wait. It's a cozy apartment with warm afternoon light and a clunky, steaming boiler that sounds like a locomotive crashing through the night. I love it.

The first week or so, we were without a working stove, which left us in a sort of limbo: Mostly moved in, but still unable to boil and sputter and do the kitchen-dance. This week, we're lucky enough to have a stove that's clean and bright and free of gas leaks (always a plus). 

And so, this morning, I made myself some tea. Okay, I'll admit that it wasn't actually tea because we don't have any tea right now. We're in transition, you see. But it felt like tea, because I heated the water in the kettle, chopped up some spicy, juicy ginger and steeped it in a tea ball. 

As a caffeine-free and refreshing alternative to tea, I often just pour myself hot water to sip on cold days. People look at me quizzically, but I don't mind. Other days, I like to add something else for my taste buds. Today it was ginger, but I also enjoy adding a tablespoon of Bragg Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar. Lemon or lime is always nice. Once I start growing some roots here, I may even have an herb garden from which I could snip some fresh mint or lemon verbena. After all, there aren't any rules. I like to play.

So to all of you returning from holiday travels, welcome home. I hope you had a safe and happy season, and that you find a soul-nourishing way of bidding this year goodbye and greeting the next.

-Kylie