I was inspired by one of my friends to post some of my healthier cleaner eating recipes.  Now.. let me just say, I am not a super healthy clean eater.. I just ate Taco Bell yesterday!  It’s my fast food weakness.. and my husband just went out of town so I thought I could get away with it without regretting it later:/

Anyway.. I am all about eating less processed foods rather than buying all the pre made packaged things on the shelfs at the grocery.  And for me, summertime makes it so much easier to eat fresh, with all the yummy growing vegetables and fruits so easily accessible from the garden or your nearest farmer’s market.

Just a tip by the way.. once summer hits, buy most of your veggies from the local farmer’s market.. it’s typically less expensive than the grocery, tastes better, and hasn’t ridden on a huge truck from California or Mexico, and you’re supporting your local farmers. Look for the ‘homegrown items’ or ‘local and regional’ items though.. some farmer’s markets let farmers bring in produce still grown far away in other climates that are the same brands you’d buy in the grocery.  For some of my favorite markets to visit see below at the end of this post!

Getting back to it now.. I’ve been making this fresh Kale and Cabbage Slaw Salad with avocado dressing this summer for adding some healthy freshness to my plate.  And here’s what I mean by I don’t really eat super healthy.. this is something I would put on my plate with my burger and french fries!  But on the healthier side, it’s also great with some grilled chicken or salmon, or as a slaw to put on your tacos.  It’s pretty addicting! 

Summer Kale Slaw with Avocado Dressing:

• 4 large Kale leaves de-stemmed and chopped thin
• 3/4 cups Red Cabbage sliced super thin
• 1 carrot pealed and shredded (I use my cheese grater)
• 1 Avocado – half for the dressing and half diced for topping
• 1 Jalapeño, seeds removed and diced small
• 1 TBSP Fresh Lime Juice (typically about half a lime squeezed)
• 1/4 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar (or any good vinegar of your choice)
• 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
• 2 TBSP Plain Goats Milk Yogurt (Or a greek plain yogurt is just fine as well)
• 1 TBSP Olive Oil
• 1 tsp Honey
• Pinch of Salt to Taste

1. Thinly chop up your Kale and Cabbage,  shred the carrots and set aside.
2. Combine the rest of your ingredients in a bowl minus one of the halves of your avocado.  I make my dressing in the bowl that I’m going to toss the actual salad in.
3. Once you’re dressing is made you can put the salad portion (Kale, cabbage, and carrots) on top of the dressing in your bowl, don’t toss it yet..
4. put in the fridge until about 15 minutes before serving, then pull it out and toss it with the dressing.
5.  Dice the other half of avocado on top and set back in the fridge until ready to serve!
   

   

   

   

This is a great basic dressing recipe that you can adjust with just a couple different ingredients  to suit your taste or meal better.  For instance, take out the jalapeño and add sriracha and sesame seed oil to give it a more asian influence.  Or, use Parsley instead of Cilantro and bump up the italian herb medley to pair with an Italian dish or pasta.  Bump up the heat with some habanero peppers or take the heat away completely and add some sweet red bell peppers to it.  The possibilities are endless.. don’t be afraid to have fun with it!

Some of my favorite farmers markets in and around Nashville are:

1. 12th South Farmers Market at Sevier Park on Tuesdays from 3p-6p, super cute and lots of local vendors doing their own things.  It’s at a park with a playground and is great to take the whole family too!  They typically have food trucks parked as well and the Retro Sno truck to cool you off.
2. The Nashville Farmer’s Market is everyday, it’s bigger and has an amazing food court of great options for lunch!  This is one you need to watch out for those non homegrown or local items.. some booths will have some items trucked in that were not grown on their farm.  I know this is a necessity sometimes but the homegrown stuff on their local farms is always going to taste better.
3. Amish Produce Stand in Green Hills,  I think it’s there almost everyday. It’s in the parking lot of the Sylvan Park Senior Home Building.  I like to hit them up and then hit the Kroger or Trader Joe’s for the rest of my grocery needs, it’s convenient and quick and easy.
4. If you’re in Murfreesboro the Rutherford County Farmers’ Market is amazing.. all product must be locally or regionally grown, so no trying to figure out what is or isn’t.  There’s also the Murfreesboro Saturday Market on the square that is great for family and fun.
5. Let me know the favorites in your area that you want people to know about! Please let us know in the comments below!!