"Almost Fall" Salad with Citrus Dressing

Here at the end of August, I'm 100% ready for Fall. The kids are back to school, and the summer is drawing to a close. But, the weather has other plans, and 100% doesn't care about my desires. Humidity is in the mid-80s, the sun shines its bright white light down to the baked grass, and heat shimmers on the wind. It's STILL summer, and we are at the whims of Mother Nature as to when we will be feeling the crisp call of autumn (probably not any time soon).

We are firmly ensconced in the "in between." Far from the peak of summer, but not yet on the cusp of fall. Blooms are still on the flowers, but some trees have shed a few browned and yellow leaves; testing, waiting for the seasons to change. The mornings are cooling with dew condensed on the grass, but the skies are bright blue, and not yet occluded by puffy white clouds moving quickly across the air.

Despite the uncertainty of the seasons, the "in between" is a great time; a time of change and adaptation. Anything can happen in the "in between." We are able to reap the benefits of summer and pair it with the coming fall. Plan, update, and fathom the new beginnings that come with the start of a new season. Fall is a time where we start to slow down, harvest the last vestiges of the energy of the summer and use that energy to plan for the coming months ahead. Unlock and tap into those evolutionary modes of mental clarity and use the "in between" to motivate and capitalize on a long term strategy.

This Sustainability Spotlight is to focus on the seasonality of your efforts. If you started on a path of sustainability over the summer, make plans to carry those efforts into the fall and winter months. A wonderful time for evaluation (or re-evaluation) of your beliefs and what is "working" or "not working" for you and your family, the "in between" gives you a sort of grace period to make modifications. Remember, the goal of sustainability is NOT to be perfect; it's to make better choices, and ensure that we can adapt to different paths to provide deviation points on the future. As agents of change, we cannot be afraid of uncertainty; in fact, we should revel in it!

This recipe is a metaphor for the revelation in that change. I take ingredients from the summer months (citrus, sunflower seeds, and cruciferous vegetables) and I combine them with the ingredients starting to emerge for fall (apple, dates and sunflower seeds). I'm reveling in the "in between" both mentally and with my ingredients, ensuring that I honor the ability to bridge both sides of my sustainability efforts; change with purpose.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 broccoli crown (shredded)

• 1/2 cauliflower crown (shredded)

• 5-6 lacinato kale leaves (finely chopped)

• 5-6 celery ribs (diced)

• 1 large sweet (like Honeycrisp) apple (chopped)

• 10-12 pitted dates (diced)

• 3 green onions (diced)

• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds (unsalted & roasted)

• Citrus Dressing:

  • 1 lemon (1/2 zested; all juiced)

  • 1/2 orange (zested & juiced)

  • 2-3 garlic cloves (chopped)

  • 1/2 tbsp maple syrup

  • 1/4 cup filtered water

  • 1 tsp stone ground mustard

  • salt & pepper (to taste)

Directions:

1. Combine broccoli through sunflower seeds in a large bowl

2. Blitz all Citrus Dressing ingredients in a personal blender until emulsified and slightly foamy

3. Pour dressing over salad in the large bowl and toss thoroughly to coat.

4. Serve in large bowls with some crusty bread (as desired)

With love & hope for a better future for all of us - Jamie