What's for lunch | The eat-your-veggies-in-the-winter salad

Even in these super cold temperatures I've been craving bright green salads for lunch. I love soup but it's either in the freezer when I think of it or I don't think to make some early enough. Salads are super fast to put together and I can use up what I have in the fridge.

Here's what I threw together this week for lunch:

4-5 leaves of romaine lettuce cut into pieces
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 carrot, sliced
Half of a red pepper, chopped
1 quarter of a cucumber, chopped
A few slices of red onion
A handful of olives
A hand full of cashews
A tablespoon of hemp seeds
A splash of apple cider vinegar
A splash of olive oil
A dash of salt & pinch of cayenne

I've been buying olives a lot lately just for this purpose... they really take these salads up a notch. Delish!

ps-Earlier this week I added a can of Raincoast tuna and it was the perfect addition.

What's for lunch? Grilled Pear & Goat Cheese Sandwich with Honey & Chocolate Mint

There's nothing I like better than a quick lunch and this is it! The best part is that it seems like a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich, but kind of like you're eating dessert.

I've made this sandwich before a few times, but there's an extra little kick in this one: chocolate mint! Our neighbour is growing a ton of it and offered some to me so I snuck a couple leaves in for fun.

By the way, this is kid-approved! I made this sans-mint for Leo and Mila a while back and they loved it.

Recipe: Grilled Pear & Goat Cheese Sandwich with Honey & Chocolate Mint

• 2 slices of bread (I eat thin rye bread from Dimpflmeier, but thick and crusty French bread would be amazing here)
• 1.5 oz of goat cheese
• 4-8 thin slices of pear
• A drizzle of honey
• A couple leaves of chocolate mint
• Oil for grilling

Method

• Spread goat cheese on both sides of the bread - don't be shy! Use lots!
• Layer the pear on one slice of bread
• Drizzle with honey & top with mint
• Grill!

Notes:

• If you have it, use coconut oil in your pan. It's super yummy with this sandwich!
• I used two mint leaves and it was a tad much. I really liked it, but if you just want a taste go with one.
• I used my cast iron pan, but I've also used my panini press which is fun because you get nice grill marks.

Enjoy and let me know if you make it!

-Steph

munch

This is what I munched on today at lunch. Delicious. Lentil soup with carrots and spinach. YUM. I can't wait to eat the rest tomorrow.