Sometimes I want an award just for being an adult.
I’d like a little trophy with my adult accomplishment engraved… actually I’ll totally just settle for a sticker. Being an adult is hard. No seriously… it’s hard. I’m not just being a whiner. I just think that if I could be occasionally high-fived for all of life’s little tasks, I’d feel better about everything. Just a small gesture, something that says:
Hey Joy, great job printing out and organizing all of your credit card statements. It’s not even tax time yet. Right on!
1st place for paying their phone bill not two months late goes to Joy the Baker.
You didn’t eat the entire pack of flour tortillas even though you wanted to. Well done!
You dusted! You’re a superstar!
Your socks match, and they’re clean. Well played.
Look at you payin’ rent like a boss.
Congratulations! You can aaaaalllllmost afford your own health insurance.
You drove a car across town without crashing it into another car… and your oil change light isn’t even on!
1st place in home decor goes to Joy the Baker for her bottle of bourbon and scented candle!
Great Job! You didn’t have stale corn chips and salsa for dinner. You made a kale salad. You’re so good at life!
Welcome to the land of kale and adulthood.
This recipe is big and green. It feels simple with leafy kale and a simple vinaigrette, but also feels indulgent with dried cherries and roasted cashews.
This recipe is from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. It’s a win.
This is a simple chop, whisk, and toss endeavor.
Chop up the radishes. Whisk together the mustard, olive oil, and vinegar. Toss it all together.
Oh! I forgot the sprinkle… totally the best part. Sprinkle cherries, cashews, and goat cheese. Lastly, go nuts with the salt and pepper.
Kale Cherry and Cashew Salad
makes 4 small or 2 large servings
adapted from The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
for the salad:
8 ounces (I used about 8 heaping cups) purple kale (or cavalo nero)
4 ounces (about 4 medium-large) radishes
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup roasted and salted cashews, coarsely chopped
2 ounces soft goat cheese, chilled and crumbled
salt and pepper for topping
for the dressing:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons white wine (or apple cider) vinegar
1 tablespoon smooth Dijon mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
salt and pepper to taste
Wash kale and allow it to dry by spreading it out on a paper towel. Gently tear the kale leaves away from the fibrous stalk. Tear kale into bite sized pieces and place in a large salad bowl. Thinly slice radishes and add to the bowl. Add the dried cherries, salted cashews, and goat cheese crumbles. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Alternately, if you grocery store has a salad bar, you can buy clean, pre-chopped kale on the go.
To make the dressing, in a small bowl whisk together olive oil, vinegar, mustard, and honey. Whisk until smooth and the oil is well incorporated into the mixture. Alternately, you can use a small mason jar with a lid to shake the ingredients together. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss together insuring that all of leaves are coated in dressing. The salad is delicious to eat immediately, but is even better after its rested for 20 minutes, allowing the leaves to become tender.
Annette
I just made this recipe for my baby shower, and everyone could not stop talking about how much they loved it! Thank you so much for the recipe and inspiration. It was a hit! I will definitely make it again.
Annaliese
Made this last night, and it was a fabulous combination!
Audra Hudrlik
Not a big fan of goat cheese. Any thoughts on substitute?
joythebaker
feta? a small amount of blue cheese?
Mary Sparks
Joy the baker – you are my absolute favorite. I’ll be making this salad as part of my dinner party this weekend. Thank you thank you.
Sophie
Have literally started eating this every day. I’m obsessed!
Victoria
“Look at you payin’ rent like a boss.
Congratulations! You can aaaaalllllmost afford your own health insurance.”
Made. My. Day.
You deserve a reward for being a legit adult, who makes me feel like I’m not the only crazy one out there!
Esther from A Lovely State of Mind
You had me at radishes, then REALLY had me at goat cheese. And, wow, you DUSTED?! That’s amazing! That deserves way more than a medal in my book. I’m lucky to remember to vacuum once a month lately.
The Food Hound
HAHA!! I love it- I would love an award for being an adult, too- actually, an award for motherhood things, too. You keep the floor clean so that your child doesn’t have fur-hands from crawling around? Gold star! I am LOVING the idea of this salad. It would be great with chard, too. YUM! I need this cookbook!
Anamika
Adulthood is never an easy feat. Especially those who are in transition from teenage life to adulthood but life goes that way. Everyone has their fair share of adulthood moments.
Thanks for sharing your salad recipe! By the looks of it, I’m already loving it! :)
Cookie and Kate
Holy moly, do I ever connect with you on this post. I want a gold star to magically appear on my lapel every time I check my tire pressure. I feel like I deserve a cookie every time I send my rent check in on time (it’s not that I don’t have the money, it’s just that writing a check and putting a stamp on it seems so hardddd). I also believe that my kitchen counter should be covered in trophies for doing so many dang loads of dishes. And oh yeah, this salad, I’ve been eyeing it in Deb’s book. I’m a kale salad freak.
Theresa
Yeah! Right?
I am a bona fide adult, but I totally get the moving-into-it phase. My children are about your age and I see the transition…
Here’s another thing that you are almost old enough to figure out: There is no ‘there’. Your are never ‘there’, always in the process of getting there…
Not trying to be scary. Blessings.
Anne
I love radishes, they’re totally underplayed. Colorful radishes…dang girl, you’re fancy (I’m sure the cashews, cherries and goat cheese helps the fanciness). Seriously though, can we all just get a cookie for being adult and cooking for ourselves? Or is that a built-in reward, I can’t decide.
Lindsay Chryssis
oh man, “Welcome to the land of kale and adulthood… Feel free to use any kale that makes you feel fine.” i just love it. and you – smiling on this friday afternoon when i just want out. out of this office. out.
Jim Allenspach
Thankyouthankyouthankyou! Made the cheesy cheddar crackers last night. Needless to say I’ll have to make them again tonight. Luckily, they’re super easy to make. And they’re super. My daughter Kelley, introduced me to your website. She’s 1,000 miles away so we connect by making one of your recipes at the same time. And we got something great to eat when we’re done! And you’re coming to Boston! See ya there! Do you like ginger cookies?
anna
i just got that cookbook! now it’s on my shelf next to your cookbook!
Nicole
You crack me up! Glad to know I’m not the only one who secretly wishes I got awards for doing adult stuff:>
Whitney @ The Newlywed Chefs
Joy, you make me giggle! This recipe looks delicious!
Kimberly
Adulthood gets messy when my fierce warrior of a cat, Lucy, kills a mouse and leaves it as a gift for my return home.
I made this salad for dinner tonight…it was a revelation!
OrGreenic
Thanks for the kale and cashew salad recipe. It seems so simple, but I bet it is absolutely delicious. It is nice having a few different things to try.
Rebeca
I’ve recently started to read your blog and I love you’re writing and baked goodies! I quietly laughed at my desk many times while reading this post (I think that’s why the guy that sits next to me never talks to me…). Matching socks are a win for sure!
I’d like my stickers to be scratch and sniff thank you very much!
Geez Louise!
there has to be some kind of award for syncing your new phone to your computer and down/up loading everything … just to get to the gym with music. I refuse to ask a teenager… I have to be a grown up and figure this out.
Tsigeyusv
I just received yours and Deb’s cookbooks in the mail last night. This salad looks awesome and healthy. I’m looking forward to eating some kale goodness soon.
Beth
You must be a mind reader. I was just going to google kale recipes cause I bought a giant bag of it. Thanks!
Sloan
You get a gold star from me just for being you. But growing up is overrated. I prefer to channel my inner Peter Pan! But I would enjoy this “adult” salad anytime.
Carrie @ Bakeaholic Mama
Def high five for matching socks… mine don’t match as we speak.
I love kale anything, I can’t wait to get my hands on this book. After we are done with yours…. I think I need to start a club for Debs book.
marie
I love your recipes and the great food shots, but most of all I love all your quirky and amusing thoughts on life. They keep me coming back :) From me to you, keep it up!
Jen @ Savory Simple
My goodness, I love everything about this!
Anne
Wait a second, I’m NOT actually getting a pin/sticker/high-five/cheap Halloween candy for accomplishing mundane housework and grown-up stuff? Mom told me it kept getting lost in the mail!
Ellen
All the choices you get to/have to make as an adult….sometimes I do just want somebody to tell me what to do.
Heh, I don’t think I need someone to tell me to eat this salad. Cashews and radishes unjustly are underplayed in the salad world-glad to see them here!
sarah
I really like when you write about kale.
and yeah, shouldn’t being an adult come with an instruction manual??
Tracey
Oh Joy, you nailed it! I want credit for all these adult things I do, that no one ever told me about. The mortgage, the taxes, the bills paid on time, scrubbing the bathtub, and dusting and so much more. This salad looks awesome too!
Julia {The Roasted Root}
Great pick from the SK cookbook! Mine is on the way in the mail and I can’t wait to get it and try all Deb’s recipes….including this one! Love kale salads and your photos of the deliciousness look great!
Emily
Girlfriend, I am right there with you. It is hard. What happened to all the stickers, high fives, ribbons, ect. Maybe rewarding in shoes. Something needs to happen. xo
Gretta
Yum this looks delicious. I just got the Smitten cookbook too and I cannot wait to make EVERYTHING!
Lisa
We should earn badges and everyone walks around with sashes full of badges. Like Girl Scouts…only awesomer. Well, now I’m thinking about Girl Scout cookies. *receives badge for resisting last sleeve of thin mints in freezer* =)
MJ
Adulthood is totally weird – wait till you add kids to your adult-dom then you really deserve an award – like for reals!
:) You are awesome!
Chelsea
Yuuuuummmm! This idea of adulthood (which I totally agree with, by the way) reminds me of the “DO ALL THE THINGS” post from Hyperbole and a Half.
Sophie
I reguarly ask my parents if they can take over the adult stuff again, they won’t. I hate processing forms, renewing memberships, doing my taxes…ugh! My Dad is good about it though, he gives me gentle reminders, “hey Soph, have you renewed your car registration yet? you need to get third party insurance with that…”
A little recognition would go a long way, I’d like a gold star sticker for each achievement please!
Gold star for you Joy!
Rocky Mountain Woman
I love how pretty it is! It is totally a fancy restaurant kind of salad, without the fancy restaurant kind of price…
Megan
I can’t wait to whip this up for dinner. I love kale – and goat cheese!! Yum! And as hard as it is being an adult, I still prefer it. Kids can’t have a cocktail before, during or after dinner! haha We win!! :)
Belle
cleaning the entire bathroom area, deserves an extra special award!
Rachel
I’m eating my version of this salad right now! So glad you posted this today, or else I would probably be eating leftover frozen pizza for my 5 PM lunch. (It’s an election hangover…) I used what I had in the fridge — kale, honeycrisp apples, crumbled blue cheese, and hazelnuts. I followed the recipe for your salad dressing and it came out great. Thanks!
elliepie
Being an adult IS SUPER HARD. And it blows half the time. I want stickers, too! Is that part of the reason we find life partners, so we have someone to high-five us for eating real food and paying bills on time?
Also, I love Deb and can’t WAIT to get my hands on this cookbook!
Archer
Joy – I love all this adulthood talk. Even in your last post with the pants…
dana828
major high fives to you just for being you! I totally think I deserve kudos for cleaning my son’s room today…especially since it included unearthing things like a petrified orange and something in a kleenex box that I think I’m better off not identifying. At this point, bourbon seems like the most appropriate reward.
Fab-looking salad, btw!
Katie @ Blonde Ambition
haha, i wish someone would give me an award for each and every one of those too.
and ones like, “congrats, katie, on putting together an outfit that matches!”
“did you just shave your legs twice in one week? you rule!”
“you created a budget on wellsfargo.com….and usually follow it! awesome!”
Angela
I love this.
You made an uplifting post with humor, kale, and awesomeness! Great job! :)
Kelly
I absolutely LOVE this! I’m such a huge fan of kale and this is a wonderful combination! :)
Miriam
I am so with you on those flour tortillas. Love your site. Makes me laugh (and makes me hungry) every time I read it
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
I need a good kale salad in my life! This sounds awesome!
OliePants
I always love your prep pictures! And your salad looks fantastic!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes
Virtual high-five, Joy!!! You crack me up :)
CB
Right on Joy and all the adults out there!
I congratulate you and myslef, another day well done indeed! It really had to be said.
Stacey
You’re a totally awesome adult, Joy! Great job!
Cassie
I’m not gonna lie, my husband and I high five each other for all of those little things that come with adulthood. We still feel like kids so when all the bills are paid on time, HIGH FIVE! We’re growing up! Or when I make a meal that isn’t just a main dish…HIGH FIVE! Meat AND veggies! woot! You’re totally right about the perks though, because we take advantage of being adults by drinking a lot of red wine.
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
i want a high five for matching clean socks. double high five if they don’t have holes.
ps. this salad makes me like adulthood.
natalia
seriously, i feel like i need to write these little kudos on my bathroom mirror.
jennifer duncan
What a great post today! I’m totally feeling that this week-just getting the kids out the door with a nutritious breakfast and lunch, with clothes that are reasonably clean and hole-less and then starting MY day, chugging away. And p.s. guys just don’t get it. Yeah, you got ready for a hurricane, nor’easter, worked and took care of the kids, fixed a plumbing problem, protected the sheep from a hungry pack of coyotes in the middle of the night, dealt with poachers and crazy people, went to countless soccer games, band concerts and teacher conferences and you want me to bring you back a bottle of perfume from my business trip. WHAAAT??
*sigh*
Joy
I definitely think that we need more encouragement on the little things. :) Thanks for the post!
Brittany
this is just great. I love it when you tell me things that I wish were true even when I didn’t previously know I wished they were true, that’s the best. If only I could add “unloaded the dishwasher AND folded laundry immediately after both were hot n ready…. like not even a moment later.” to my resume, I would be a better adult.
Louisa
High five! :) Adulthood is definitely a challenge.
Yum… I adore cashews and goats cheese and kale, so this looks perfect. It’s too cold here to crave salad right now though!
Christine
Woah! I read your blog every single day but never, ever comment because I am not cool like you and don’t have my own blog and fail to have anything original to say, but today I must comment because this post is so startlingly relevant that I’m breathless.
“I should receive an award for dutifully completing adulthood’s perpetual list of un-fun tasks.”
I say this every day. Thanks for disseminating my thoughts to the entire blogosphere. First place for maturely speaking on behalf of all adults goes to Joy the Adult Baker.
Erin
Where was the “congratulations on pulling that hair-wookie from the sink drain without barfing” award last week?
That moment made me wish I was still a child, haha.
joythebaker
so real.
Stacey
Hair Wookie! Bah! Soooo gross and funny.
Sarah Kyle
This looks awesome. I love kale salads! I must try this one.
Melody
Joy- you are an amazing adult. Way to be responsible AND healthy! Awesome. Also, thanks for brightening my day.
Ashley - Baker by Nature
Pretty pretty salad!
Diana
Kale salads are my favorite! It such a versatile base, and a nice twist to the traditional spinach. I especially love mine paired with roasted beets and fresh cheese with a balsamic reduction. Way to go on being an adult!
Katie
I think these thoughts every single day. Where is my trophy for showing up for work relatively on time and eating things that are not just peanut butter M&Ms?
Stacey
Amen, sister!
Kelsey
yes!! I love raw kale salad! Sometimes I do in fact, verbally congratulate myself on doing adult chores. I also make sure to remind myself that adulthood has it’s perks when I have popcorn and beer for dinner, and wash it all down with some cookie dough.
Bakerkat
Being an adult certainly has it’s plus side. It’s funny when we were young we never realized how great it would be to get those tasks done. It’s kinda neat.
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure and Health
i feel so accomplished when i get things half way on my to-do list. who knew growing up would be all this challenging and complicated..
the salad looks great and more than kale, I am excited about the fancy toppings.
sue fletcher
my ABSOLUTE fave moment of this post?
“Look at you payin’ rent like a boss.”
i love the idea of the adult awards and TOTALLY wish i could get one every now and then! thank you for giving voice to that urge!
;-)
Sarah@StrawberryPlum
Do we ever really grow up? I’m almost thirty and still think of myself as a kid, which I’m totally okay with. Who cares if it means my stovetop is constantly a mess and I still leave my dirty clothes laying on the bathroom floor. I think maybe you have to become a parent to really become an adult.
Leigh
This looks so delicious and nutritious!
Abby@ The Frosted Vegan
I am absolutely SMITTEN with the SK cookbook! I can’t stop looking at the pictures and the Marbled Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake makes me swoon.
Megan
“Great Job! You didn’t have stale corn chips and salsa for dinner.”
I didn’t win this award yesterday, but I made up for it my filling up my gas tank instead of my usual $5 or $10 increments. Clearly, a win for adulthood.
TheSpicySaffron
Great post!1 As an adult myself I totally relate to you ….we surely do deserve to be awarded!! I give you the biggest award for being a great adult and an excellent blogger:)
Lauren
Great salad. I must pick up teh Smitten Kitchen cookbook.
this cartoon about being an adult is spot on – I relate so, very, much. http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/06/this-is-why-ill-never-be-adult.html
meg h.
Adulthood is hard and I forget how long I have been doing it! Although I did get a “congratulations” for my 25 (!) year anniversary with the same company this morning. Not sure how that happened because was in college just last year. : )
Rachel (Two Healthy Plates)
Yum – I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of the cookbook and see what else is inside! This salad looks great and I love cashews as a salad topping.
Sarah L.
I totally want an award every time I make a vegetable side for my dinner (instead of just eating carbs). Look you made a salad! Are those brussels sprouts next to your carbs? Nice work!
fatpiginthemarket
I paid off my credit card and have not used it again since even though there was a 40percent off sale at one of my favorite stores. Forty percent…that’s almost half so this totally counts as adult, right? I’d like some of that salad ’cause I dig Kale…with a side of chocolate donuts because I clearly have adultlike tendencies.
Heather
Dusting the ceiling fans makes you a real REAL grown up. I’d like an award for that, please.
CafeKate
Thanks, Joy! I often utter the words, “being a responsible adult is so over rated” and think I deserve a gold star every time I unload the dishwasher (even when the drain is clean), so I loved all your comments!
I also guilt myself when I’m eating a mini kit kat from my daughter’s Halloween haul, by saying to myself, “you’re 42! Grown ups don’t eat …….. (insert your favorite, not-grown-up food….tater tots; Nutella on a spoon; a handful of chocolate chips; Taco Bell; your daughter’s Halloween candy)”. Then after swallowing my last bite of whatever, I make a mental note to remember to not eat not-grown-up food ever again. Memory loss comes with age – just sayin’.
Thanks for the very grown-up recipe, Joy!
Liberty Browne
So funny, Joy! I feel like I’m just play acting being an adult sometimes… Sometimes I’m not even very good at play acting, but I’m doing my best.
Also- cavelo nero is my adult food too – my body gets so excited when I see it, which sounds weird but it’s true!
Paulette
Never had kale before. I guess if I make a salad and have that for my main course (because after last nights meal) today would be the day to try your Kale salad. On adulthood your right there are so many rewards and mine was the rum and pepsi I had with my not so adulthood meal. Paulette
Margherita
I saw this recipe as well in the cookbook and I was on the fence whether to give it a go or not….
You’ve inspired me, and I’m so gonna make it later today!
jayne
Adulthood is hard isn’t it? I think we should get those “good job”, “awesome” call outs that Bejewelled gives when you’ve scored high points. I’d love to hear “Great move” everytime after I’ve scrubbed the bathroom floors Cinderella style. Not my favourite activity. Ironing is up that same list. speaking of which, I have 2 months worth of ironing to do…… -_-
beautiful salad. I want to get my hands on Deb’s cookbook. She’s awesome like you, Joy.
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Good job on checking some chores off your list and for making this salad. I can’t wait to get my mitts on Deb’s cookbook. And I probably will skip to the dessert chapters before the salad ones :) But bravo to you for being an adult and responsible and making kale salad before dessert!
Synne
I know exactly what you mean! I have recently moved from Oslo to Paris all by myself, and I buy and do all kinds of grown-up things, and why haven’t someone knocked on my door with a trophy yet? I guess I’ll make myself something scrumptious while I wait. Like this salad.
Miss B
Best tip for eating raw kale: after you chop it, dump it in a large bowl, and give it a good salting (and an optional drizzle of olive oil if you don’t plan on rinsing them after), then spend a few minutes massaging the salt into the leaves. You can then rinse them again if you fear salt, or not. This tenderizes them really well, and brightens up the flavor of the greens. (I don’t generally find this necessary, but some people think raw kale is too tough, and sometime older/larger bunches of it can be, and this fixes that problem.)
joythebaker
i love how gnarly raw kale is, but this is totally a great tip for peple who want their kale to chill out. thanks!
My Kids Mom
My farmer friend says to simply grab handfuls of it and squeeze it/crush it tight before serving it raw. Works!
Julie
I always feel so good after completing adult chores!
leaf (the indolent cook)
I feel you. There are just so many things to do as an adult. Or so many things that you know you should do, but don’t feel like doing.
At least eating healthily isn’t a tough task with a super salad like this. :D
Lindsay
LOL. You’re the best, Joy.
Caz
I’ve got to try kale in salad.. Never had kale totally raw before. I love the combo of dried cherries and goat cheese. Totally fancy and delicious. I’m clearly not going to excel at this adult thing until I have a raw kale salad :)
Jen
Funny – today, another favorite food blogger (How Sweet It Is) wrote about adulthood (and the last day of her 20s) and kale salad! But really, matching clean socks deserve an award.. Who has time to waste matching socks?!
Emily
Sometimes I think I should get a reward for doing adult things as well. Especially when I have to reach my hand in dishwater to unclog a drain. That is the worst and it deserves an award or in my case a reward…in the form of apple crisp.
Kids can’t use ovens. Win.
Adulthood – 1 Not being an adult- 0
joythebaker
you totally deserve an award for dish drain cleaning. for real.