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Home > Blog

03.18.13 Bulk Bins

Spinach and Kamut Salad with Chili-Orange Dressing

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Spinach and Kamut Salad with Chili-Orange Dressing

Recently, there have been moments that catch me off my emotional guard. I'll be standing in my parents living room, thinking about my childhood/early adulthood and realizing I'm not going to be able to stop by their house or have lunch with them as often once I move. Things I have come to take for granted are soon going to be things I get to do so very rarely. It can be a bit jarring at times.

Spinach and Kamut Salad with Chili-Orange Dressing

I had what one could only consider to be a mini-breakdown last Friday. I was crying but happy at the same time. I had just dropped my grandmother off after taking her to the eye doctors and then out to dinner. While we enjoyed our meal and splurged on dessert, I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude wash over me. Here I was, sitting with my grandmother, enjoying her company. We happily were chatting about everything from selling their house to stories of when she and my grandfather were young. I can't remember a time when it was just my grandmother and I for a long period of time.

I wanted to hang onto that moment, I wanted to save it. It felt (and still does) so amazingly precious. When I took my grandma home I hugged her tight, hoping she knew how much the afternoon meant to me. I think I started crying on the way home because it's ever so slowly starting to sink in- some of those moments may not happen again.

Spinach and Kamut Salad with Chili-Orange Dressing

It's those moments that don't need tweeting or facebooking, I even debated about sharing it here but it's what has been on my mind. More and more I get reminders to slow down, like actually slow down. I find myself skipping out on things or not fully being in the moment because I'm too worried about the 500 gazillion things I have to do next. I tell myself that I'll do yoga tomorrow morning because this morning I need to do X, Y, and Z. I'll leave dinner early because it's cutting into my "work" time. Worst of all, before I get out of bed every morning I'll start mentally making to-do list and planning out my day (because there is no time to spare). (on a side note- I woke up this morning and did  yoga).

It's silly really. Years down the road I'm not going to look back and say, "damn- that day I got SO much stuff done" but instead I'm going to say, "remember that afternoon I spent with my grandmother? What a wonderful memory." It's all about assessing what's really important which at times can be a bit confusing.

Spinach and Kamut Salad with Chili-Orange Dressing

I've written before about finding what makes ma happy in life and in this whole journey of time management and importance, I've found that I really love what Melissa and I are doing with Wooden Spoons. There are so many wonderful people out in the world and blogs are a way to reach out and connect with people you possibly would have never met before. Each blog represents a personality, a unique voice. We help bring out that personality just a little more through design and a space that a person can call their own.

This morning we launched one of those unique voices. I love Sarah. Her writing, her photographs, her recipes. Everything. If you've never ventured over to The Vanilla Bean Blog, you really should.

Spinach and Kamut Salad with Chili-Orange Dressing

While spending a week staring at her site, I really wanted to whip up a citrusy salad dressing. I've been on a rather large orange kick recently (it helps me think warm California thoughts). And so I followed what Sarah did and made this simple, but oh so tasty salad. I love kamut in salads. It's a bit dense and chewy- making the salad feel hearty. I also have been on a rather big spice kick, so that's why I added the chili flakes (which you could of course easily leave out!)

Print

Spinach and Kamut Salad with Chili-Orange Dressing

Print Recipe
  • Author: Erin Alderson
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 60 mins
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Category: Salad

Ingredients

Scale
  • Salad
  • 3-4 handfuls spinach
  • ½ cup kamut, uncooked
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds
  • 2 ounces feta
  • Dressing
  • ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice (app. 2 oranges)
  • ¼ cup walnut oil
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • ¼-½ teaspoon red chili flakes

Instructions

  1. Cover kamut with a good amount of water, bring to a boil, and reduce to a low boil. Cook for approximately one hour. Kamut should be tender but will still be slightly chewy. Let cool.
  2. Combine orange juice, walnut oil, honey, and ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes in a mason jar or other container that has a lid. Shake well and test for chilis- add more if desired.
  3. Toss spinach, kamut, sunflower seeds, and feta together. Lightly drizzle dressing over salad and toss well.

Notes

*Salad Dressing Adapted from Sarah of the Vanilla Bean Blog

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @naturallyella on Instagram and hashtag it #naturallyella

 

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  1. HalfBakedHarvest says

    March 18, 2013 at 8:03 am

    I love the dressing on this salad! Your photos are so pretty!

    Reply
  2. Melting pot-au-feu says

    March 18, 2013 at 8:26 am

    Beautiful photos! I love orange juice in salads. It adds acidity and lots of vitamins! It's so peppy!

    Reply
  3. stephanie wise says

    March 18, 2013 at 8:55 am

    LOVE this post. Such a good reminder to keep our priorities in line and enjoy the little things.

    Also, fabulous job on Sarah's blog! Love it!

    Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough

    Reply
  4. Warm Vanilla Sugar says

    March 18, 2013 at 1:44 pm

    I especially love the dressing in this! Yum!

    Reply
  5. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

    March 18, 2013 at 1:59 pm

    This salad definitely spells summer. So refreshing just looking at it 🙂

    Reply
  6. Kelly Hunt says

    March 18, 2013 at 2:42 pm

    This salad looks just perfect! 🙂

    Reply
  7. Kim Beaulieu says

    March 18, 2013 at 6:29 pm

    This is absolutely stunning. I can't wait to try the dressing.

    Reply
  8. sarah kieffer says

    March 18, 2013 at 8:48 pm

    Such a lovely post, Erin. Yes, I remember all those car rides with my Grandma, laughing until we were crying, but not any to-do list I ever wrote. And thanks, thanks for the kind words. You have been so good to me! I think you're the bee's knees. xo

    Reply
  9. Pas de Deux Blog says

    March 19, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    I'm so happy that you had such a lovely moment with your Grandmother. Having recently lost my grandmother, I find myself desperately wishing I could turn back to clock and spend more time just talking to her... Thank you for the reminder to slow down and embrace each moment instead of anticipating what's next.

    Reply
  10. Bernadette Nativo says

    March 19, 2013 at 11:36 pm

    I too am moving in the coming months (from CA to Seattle) and I have all those same feelings. I have tried to spend as much time with my grandmother for those reasons. There have been MANY times where I break down into tears after leaving. It always makes it better when they sit down with you and tell you to do it if it makes you happy, Reading this post reminded me how excited I am to move, but how precious family time is... thank you!!

    Reply
  11. [email protected] says

    March 27, 2013 at 2:00 am

    Hi!, I just bumped into this beautiful blog... via pinterest.Thanks for sharing this recipe, I like the combination of flavours here.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Grilled Asparagus and Chili-Orange Quinoa Spring Rolls | Naturally Ella says:
    05.8.13 at 7:32 am

    [...] *I made an extra large portion of dressing and kept it to use with this salad. [...]

    Reply

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