Strawberry Spinach Salad In The Kitchen

This salad is my fella’s absolute favorite and the man likes his food so I know this must be a hit if he requests it. I love to see fruit in regular salads, it always makes for the most refreshing flavor combos. It’s pretty straight forward and amazingly simple to make yet tastes mouth-wateringly good. It only has a few ingredients which I always prefer because it seems like when it comes to salad less is always more. I’d definitely recommend it as a great Springtime side dish because it has a nice fresh light taste and would go great at Easter dinner or a Sunday brunch with friends. And on a side note, if you’re one of those crazy people who don’t like onion you could leave it out and just the have feta and strawberries …I personally think I could probably eat an onion like it was an apple.

 

To make it is so easy peasy it doesn’t even feel like work (unless you’re prone to crying when you cut onions that is). See the end of this post for the recipe in full. For produce ingredients you will need a handful of well washed spinach, fresh strawberries and red onion. I make our meals in small batches since I am only feeding two people but you can make this in a serving size to your liking.

 

Slice up your strawberries and onion and then bring on the delicious feta cheese (goat cheese would also be marvelous here). You can either make your own dressing -which I frequently do- or use some handy premade balsamic vinaigrette dressing like I’ve done here. I happened to have some that day and I always say use up what you have on hand first. Waste not, want not right? If you would rather make your own I would suggest a red wine vinegar dressing to bring out the red onion flavor or also a raspberry dressing would be scrumptious. Have fun with it and experiment to find your favorite pairing.

 

Throw your colorful ingredients in a bowl and take a second to enjoy how purdy ‘healthy living’ can be. The bitterness of the spinach is so tasty when mixed with the sweetness of the strawberries and the red onion and feta are the icing on this salad cupcake.

 

Toss it in your dressing and have at her, you will not be disappointed. If you want to add some extra protein to this salad throw some chopped walnuts in with the mix, I would have myself but I didn’t have any in the house.

 

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Serves 2

 

Ingredients:

3 cups well washed spinach

6 well washed strawberries

1/4 red onion

1/2 crumbled feta

2 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette

1/4 chopped walnuts (optional)

 

Directions:

Dice red onion and slice up the strawberries. Mix spinach, onion, strawberries walnuts (if using) and feta in a bowl and drizzle with dressing.

Should be eaten right away or if making in advance leave dressing off until just before serving.

 

Enjoy!

*All photos are property of Reckless Bliss*

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things *Part V*

 Life has been really swell lately for me and Spring has only been adding to my current cheery demeanor. Things are just seeming brighter than normal these past few weeks, maybe it’s because even when your stressed it feels slightly less intense with the sun shining down on you then it does on a cold and rainy day. In light of these magical Spring powers afoot I want to spread some of my gleeful spirit to my readers and hopefully pass along a smile by posting my newest rendition of “My Favorite Things” in honor of Springtime 2011.

 

1. A light floral perfume on your wrists and neck to coincide with the fresh Spring time air

 

2. Warm Spring showers. If the weather insists on raining then Spring rain is the best kind to have. Not too cold, not too hot and often results in a post shower rainbow. It’s a ‘Goldilocks’ dream come true.

 

3 . Decompressing at the end of the week with a game night and best buddies. We usually have one every weekend and I love it ….probably because I ALWAYS win! (except at modesty that is)

 

4. Spending a quiet afternoon doing a fun DIY craft project you can display with pride once completed.

 

5. Cherry blossom trees in their full pink blooming glory

 

6. Finding no bills when you check the mail, just the latest issue of your magazine subscription or a sweet card from a loved one

 

7. “The Art of Racing In The Rain” by Garth Stein. An adorable and at times quite sad little book that I think is a must have for any and all dog lovers alike. Just don’t forget the tissues.

 

8. Waking up naturally early Saturday morning thinking it’s a weekday then realizing, you can go back to sleep! Zzzzzz…

 

9. Delicious, sugary, cavity inducing Cadbury Creme Eggs that are only here until Easter. Release the goo!

 

10. Enjoying the extra hour it stays daylight outside after the time change.

 

11. Spring cleaning, which most people probably don’t really enjoy doing but you get rid of so much excess clutter in the process which always feels amazing to donate to charity and gain extra space in your home for the things you really love.

 

12. Just the same as the birds returning, so does your garden.

 

So those are my current favorite things lately, most of them all thanks to Spring. Do you have any Spring time related favorites? Share them here and help spread the joy!

*Photo credits Elizabeth Arden, Hasbro, Amazon, Cadbury and Google Images*

 

-Snapshot Of The Week-

 "I'm not worried about dying. I consult with God, my maker. And I don't have a lot of problems to work out. I'm pretty squared anyway."

  -Dame Elizabeth Taylor 
 

R.I.P. 1932-2011
  
*Photo credit Google Images*

“Modern Family” Dining Room Chairs

Set decor of Modern Family has been a fun project for me. Everyday I get questions about where to go for the items in and around the homes and it’s always exciting to help out people on their design hunts. But every once and awhile I get a little help back from my lovely readers.

 

A very helpful reader has given me a hot tip about the whereabouts of the elusive Modern Family dining room chairs I get asked about very often. The chairs have changed from a rounded back to this more square shaped design and people are loving it. 

 

As it turns out these honeys were right under my nose the whole time.

 

You can find this chair from our old friends at Pottery Barn. It’s called the Napoleon Upholstered Chair which is an intriguing name.

 

It retails for $199-$279 and comes in an array of colors. This white version is closest to the ones in Modern Family as I think the set designers have done a little work to their version with some paint to make it look more worn in and homey (which could easily be done by you as well).

 

I’ve updated the “Modern Family” tab with this new info so stop by there for it and much more on these beautiful homes. A big thanks to my reader elves who keep me in the loop of their findings.

 

*Photo credit Pottery Barn and Richard Berg*

 

Easter With Ms Martha

Spring is officially upon us, the clocks have “sprung forward” and it’s a beautiful sunny day here in BC. As much as I love Winter months I am really looking forward to the birdies singing, the flowers blooming and the sun shining a little more often. Easter is also a reason to love the Spring. The colors and crafts of Easter are always fun to pay around with and decorate your home. Martha Stewart is a great source to go to for any holiday crafts. There’s homemade cards, egg painting, centerpieces and more so I thought it would be fun to show you some of my personal faves that they are teaching us how to do.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  Is there anything Martha can’t do? Her crafts are a big source of entertainment if you are looking to have some DIY fun and make something you’re sure to be proud of. I would love to spend a holiday at her house, I bet it would be pretty dazzling.

Do you have a favorite part of Spring? What kind of Easter decor and traditions do you do?

*Photo credit MarthaStewart.com*

-Snapshot Of The Week-

“I find the same thing sexy in a man now as I always have: humor. I love it when they are funny. It’s to die for.”

-Ms Diane Keaton

*Photo credit google images*

 

I’m Digging It

Happy Friday everyone, because I am still hacking and coughing and wallowing over here with the flu I thought this might be a great time for another quick post on the images of gorgeous decor I’ve come across recently in my internet wanderings to share with you all. Hopefully it will offer you some weekend inspiration or just bring a little purdy-ness to your day.

 

   

   

  

  

 

 

 

    Have a recklessly blissful weekend my pretties!

*Photo credits Decorpad*

Giveaway Winner!

Hello everyone, hope you are all having a fabulous Wednesday evening. I myself have caught a horrible flu so I’m blogging from deep within the caverns of my cushy bed. But not all is lost because today I get to give a lucky follower the fabulous soap prize pack from Milk and Honey Soaps. The winner will receive:

1 The Vanilla Goat's Milk Bar
1 The Goat's Milk Oat and Honey Bar
1 The Vanilla Goat's Milk Honey Bar
1 The Oat and Honey Bar

Today’s winner is the lovely:

Ms Alicia C who said:

“I think I'd like the 5 Layer Bar Soap the best. I love sandalwood & cinnamon!”

I hope you enjoy treating yourself with these luxurious soaps!

Alicia will have three days to respond to this giveaway before a new winner is chosen. A huge thank you to everyone who entered and stay tuned for more great giveaways to come!

-Snapshot Of The Week-

“I learned a woman is never an old woman.”

-Ms Joni Mitchell

 

*Photo credit JoniMitchell.com*

 

It’s Giveaway Day!

After taking a little break from giveaways I decided it was time to once again treat my followers to a great prize and what better way to do that then to shower you in luxurious scented soaps? Milk and Honey Soaps was gracious enough to offer Reckless Bliss 4 of their delicious soaps to giveaway to one lucky reader. These soaps are all handmade with love and smell absolutely divine. (Yes I have smelled them! I’m a big fan myself)

 

If you feel like you can’t wait and take your chances in the contest then you can score any soap from the store at 10% less than the listed price with the code “RECKLESSBLISS10” at checkout for the duration of this giveaway. (Milk and Honey Soaps is also having a $3 sale on select soaps right now so there’s even more savings to be had!)

 

Or maybe you want to try a whole bunch of different scents to narrow down your favorites? If that’s the case then you are in luck because Milk and Honey Soaps offers smaller sliver samples of any scent that tickles your fancy.

 

My favorite soaps are the rich spicy scents like this Apple Cinnamon Bar (above) or Red Currant Thyme Tea Bar (Below) 

 

I think these pink soaps are adorable for the girly-girl bathroom or kitchen. They would make great gifts for a lady in your life as well. Mother’s day is coming up fast!

 

    There’s plenty of options for the men in your life too. Milk and Honey Soaps offers more masculine scents like the Brown Sugar Goat’s Milk Bar and the Tea Tree Oil Shave Soap. Don’t be afraid to cut yourself off a little slice of these soaps either because they’re still gentle enough for delicate lady skin too.

 

Now for the good stuff. Milk and Honey Soaps is giving the winner of this giveaway 4 fabulous soaps in these scents:

1 The Vanilla Goat's Milk Bar
1 The Goat's Milk Oat and Honey Bar
1 The Vanilla Goat's Milk Honey Bar
1 The Oat and Honey Bar

 

These subtle scents will leave you feeling clean and refreshed all day and are great to use for men and women alike. 

 

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS FOR THE ENTRIES AND CHECK BACK TOMORROW TO SEE IF YOU'VE WON!