Most of the country is in a mega deep freeze, and it feels like California just keeps churning out giant grapefruits and ripe avocados. It’s obnoxious, really. I should keep the fact that I’m wearing a tank top to myself. California is a spoiler state.
I’m actually toying with the idea of moving away from California. For a native California girl… that’s a pretty big deal. I’d need an air conditioner, some sort of frizz control system for my hair, and I’d sooo miss the Pacific Ocean. Thinking about moving away has me appreciating these mild California days, appreciating the produce at the farmer’s markets, and taking in the laid back attitude. I’ve always enjoyed it, but now I’m really appreciating it.
We’re all about salads and juice this month, right? I feel like I’m trying to make up for all of the cinnamon rolls I devoured in December. Seriously… I had so many cinnamon rolls! I don’t want my salad to feel like a chore, ever. That’s the absolute worst. Every salad should have a few happy ingredients: fresh citrus and ripe avocado, crispy bacon and extra cheese.
In this, the latest Bonkers Awesome episode, my friend Alex and I go on a detox (and subsequent re-tox) kick. There’s green juice, salad, and bacon involved… so… it’s not like we’re making any serious resolutions any time soon.
Salad time! This one is fresh and exciting. Yea… I’m still talking about salad.
This salad contains fresh avocado, segmented winter citrus (grapefruit and blood oranges, for me), shelled edamame, crunchy celery, leafy greens and a honey and mustard dressing.
Should we talk about how to segment citrus. The Kitchn always has the best life-hacks: How to Segment Citrus.
The combination of bright citrus with creamy avocado is just wonderful. Perfect balance. Edamame and celery add a bit of protein and crunch, respectively. Leafy greens because they make us beautiful (so says my mama and she’s never wrong).
I’m terribly lazy about making my own salad dressing unless I get to make it in a jar and shake it myself.
This salad dressing is a shaken mixture of shallots, honey, mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper. It’s an easy balance of sweet and bright.
In this Bonkers Awesome episode, Alex and I made a green juice (and then spiked it with vodka because we felt like re-toxing our detox). Well, let’s talk about this green juice too! It seems to be the thing to do this month. Part nourishing. Part feel-good punishment. These glassfuls of green feature spinach, apple, celery, cucumber, and ginger. Super healthful vegetables with a hint of sweet apple juice to make things more bearable. I also love the spice of ginger in this juice. A squeeze of lemon would also be great.
I wrote about juicing last year at this time! On Juicing. That’s where you’ll find lots of peppy juice combinations and my home juicer recommendations.
Bonkers Awesome Avocado Grapefruit Edamame Salad
serves 2
For the Salad:
about 2 cups leafy greens
1 grapefruit, segmented
1 blood orange, segmented
1 cup shelled edamame
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 small (or half of a large) ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
For the Dressing:
3 tablespoons finely diced shallots
1 tablespoon honey (for vegans substitute a bit of agave)
1 tablespoon dijon or whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
In a medium bowl, combine all of the salad ingredients: greens, citrus segments, edamame, celery, and avocado.
In a small jar with a tight-fitting lid combine shallots, honey, mustard, vinegar, olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a few pinches of pepper. Place the lid on the jar and shake it up until the mixture is emulsified. Taste the dressing and season to taste, adding more salt, pepper, or acid as necessary. Pour the dressing (as much as you’d life) over the salad. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Enjoy immediately!
Marya
this is delicious! I had a lot more lettuce than you did, and my orange was a pineapple orange, but dang, this is good. I added a little grapefruit juice to the dressing too, and it was rockin! Thanks for the recipe!
Tammy
This looks so bright & fresh and with the addition of bacon it’s a done deal. Love it!
Beauty follower
Want to try this one, love avocado in salads!
http://beautyfollower.blogspot.gr
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures
I usually don’t get super excited about salad, but this look fabulous! I’m a little envious of your weather.
Julie Hashimoto-McCreery
This Bonkers Awesome episode had me laughing so hard! Especially at the end when you guys crouch down behind the table… But your tall friend Alex is so dang tall, you can see her whole head even as you disappear! :)
Gry
looove Bonkers Awesome! more more more please!
Tracy
Joy I was laughing out loud in that video, you girls are so fun!!!
Kate
Hi Joy :)
Random question, I was jus wondering how much you pay for an avocado where you are? I’m from Australia and just shelled out $3.50 for one :(
The Wooden Spoon
I love citrus salads. This can help me *pretend* I’m back in CA. Deciding to move is hard- good luck with your decision!
Ryan
Charleston, SC! Move here! I honestly think most people should at least visit here once in their life, if they can… such a beautiful city with an AMAZING food community. And it’s almost always warm. AND there’s a beach here!
Melissa @ Treats With a Twist
You CRACK me up! I love these videos! I’ve watched them all and I want to meet you SO badly! And I love the “detox morning, retox afternoon” philosophy. LOVE
Emily
This looks SO amazing. I can’t wait to try it. Such a refreshing change from heavy “winter” food.
Julia
Where, oh where, would you be thinking of moving? How fun to contemplate a new adventure. I, too, love salad dressings I can simply shake together in a jar! This salad looks delicious!
amiechristo
Those oranges and grapefruits look so delicious! I love me a colourful salad and this DEFINITELY fits the bill. :)
Katy MacKinnon
That episode was so funny, “we’re making this in space!”. Yeah, I wish my kitchen was in space too. Absolutely delicious looking salad, wholesome, sweet, salty, perfect
Allison
SO MANY “THE THING”!
1) A complete 180, but ever consider coming to Toronto? We may have cold in the winter, but we have patios and summer down. Also, layers are sexy (no, really)!
2) I love the “if you’re vegan, do this” option! Am doing a vegan+yoga cleanse, so any little tip helps.
Happy NY!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
moving?? like, real life?! COOL! I love this episode joy – you have such an awesome TV face!!
jilliantheresa
de-tox to…RE-tox?! I love it. Bring on the bacon and chocolate.
Jessica Bell
This looks so amazing!! I want to eat some now
sundiegoeats
Love the addition of edamame, adds texture and protein to make it more filling :) Still hate grapefruits but citrus and avocado is a great combo.
ChrystinaNoel
I’m interested to know what’s on the list for places to move. Does NOLA make the list or is that just going to remain your getaway? Hmmm…
Anne Taylor (@anneiam)
Alex is so hilarious! Loved it, Joy!
Michelle
Haha! Cutest + funniest bonkers awesome episode yet. Never thought of adding vodka to my green juice but I’m totally considering it for Saturday morning brunch. Alll about balance, girl. Oh, and I need to try that dressing! :)
Dana
Loving this series more with every episode. Also I definitely looked up Alex and found her clips from Disaster Date. What a throwback. I would tell you to come here to Maine but I almost died like 4 times in .2 miles from the ice right now. House swap?
p.s. – how tall is Alex? I’m 6 feet and I like to see what that looks like to other people. Ha!
BP
That was hilarious! My fave vid of you yet! I love how you guys disappear at the end and how you run chasing her…
Kimberly
You two, and that meal, are so refreshing! super cute.
Aimee Wimbush-Bourque
SOOO funny! Love Alex.
I need this juice today.
Molly {Dreams in HD}
oh my goodness these look absolutely fantastic!!
Molly {Dreams in HD}
http://www.dreamsinhd.blogspot.com
heather
1. Air Conditioner 2. Anti-Frizz hair products = NOLA. Come on down. We want you here!
Taylor
This looks absolutely delicious! And I feel like I ate way too many (just kidding, there’s never enough!) cinnamon rolls too. I could use something fresh like grapefruit and avocado!
xoxo
Taylor
http://www.welcomehometaylor.com
Lily @ Life, Love, and Cupcakes
I loveeee blood oranges! Looking forward to trying this!
Heather
I was cracking up throughout that entire video. You guys should have a TV show :-)
joythebaker
we are totally ridiculous! thanks for watching!
Rossi @ A Baking Girl
Salad with avocados??? It’s almost like dessert (except it’s nothing like dessert, but I can tell my tastebuds that)
joythebaker
it’s totally like salad dessert! i know what you mean.
gracebeekman
This looks so refreshing! Bring on the salad recipes, girl! :)
http://sometimesgracefully.com
shelly@ohshellsbells
it IS obnoxious. sincerely, the frozen citizens of ohio
…and where might you be moving to???
joythebaker
i’m sending you warm warm thoughts! i’ll tell you where i’m moving if it actually happens!
Ellen
I am so excited for blood oranges being in season. And this salad looks like a muy bueno way to put them to good use!
Goreti Tada
What brand juicer are you using in the video?
joythebaker
it’s the hurom slow juicer. i wrote about it in this post here: https://joythebaker.com/2013/01/on-juicing/
Kenna
This sound delicious, i want to try it!!
Jo
Oh! And a teaspoon super greens powder/ spirulina
Jo
Love it. Best smoothie I have discovered lately – its like a non-alcoholic mojito! Handful baby spinach, 1/2 avocado, handful mint, coconut water, a lime squeezed, splash vanilla, handful ice.
joythebaker
that sounds so good!
Kezia
This salad looks so good! I’ve been trying to detox as well – its all about the juices and smoothies right now:)
Sarah Toasty
This is such a great winter combo, so colorful and flavorful! Hooray for blood orange season!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
You and Alex look great! I bet you two had a blast making the episodes and can only imagine how many laugh breaks you had to take :) I love edamame, avocados, and don’t feel 1 bit bad that we live in SoCal! I am all about juicing and re-toxing. I mean, that’s the fun part of life, right!
Karis
This salad is perfect for what’s in season here in Miami too, can’t wait to try it. I wore long sleeves today for the first time since moving here. There was a “cold weather emergency” warning last night because we dipped into the…wait for it…50s. Tomorrow’s suppose to back in 80s, so I’ll be in a tank :)