A Creamy (Vegan) Herb Vinaigrette and a Rotisserie Chicken Salad to make meals a little easier this week.

Plus, a Nettles Infusion that is saving us this allergy season.

Creamy Herb Vinaigrette

I've been revisiting this winner of a salad dressing a lot over the past few weeks, so I wanted to share how I've been using it lately. In my original recipe, I paired it with mixed greens and crunchy baked tofu, but I've found a new way I love even more. Massaging it into curly kale helps soften this sometimes hard-to-chew green, creating a simple and super healthy salad with a nice, bright, tangy flavor. The recipe makes a lot of dressing, so store the leftovers and try it drizzled over roasted veggies or a hearty rice bowl. 

CREAMY HERB VINAIGRETTE WITH CURLY KALE

Serves 4

• 1 1/2 bunches curly kale, stems removed, torn into bite-size pieces

• 3/4 C extra virgin olive oil

• 1/4 C raw apple cider vinegar

• 3 cloves garlic, peeled

• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

• 1 1/2 tsp sea salt

• 1/2 bunch fresh Italian parsley or basil

• 1/2 bunch fresh mint, leaves removed

• 2/3 C coconut water

• 1/3 C raw pine nuts or raw cashews

• Freshly cracked black pepper

Prep your kale and place it in a large mixing bowl. 

In a blender, place the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, lemon juice, salt, herbs of choice (I love the parsley mint combo), coconut water, nut of choice (I usually use raw cashews), and some freshly cracked black pepper. Blend on high until creamy and bright green. 

Slowly pour some vinaigrette over the kale, a little at a time. Massage the dressing into the greens, adding more until it's coated to your liking. Let the kale sit for 5 minutes and add a little drizzle on top before serving. 

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Rotisserie Chicken Salad

Oh, how I love a rotisserie chicken. Even a not-so-great one can be jazzed up in a million ways for an easy meal. I recently had a craving for a homemade chicken salad, which always makes me think of my childhood. While running low on time one day, I grabbed a cooked rotisserie chicken from Whole Foods and, in less than 15 minutes, whipped up a delicious chicken salad for lunch. I like to keep mine simple with celery, shallot, and an herb like dill. Soaking the shallot in water always helps me with digestion and lends a more subtle flavor to the dish, so it isn't overpowering all the other components. This rotisserie chicken salad is delicious on its own, served over greens like arugula, or stuffed inside a warm pita pocket. You really can't go wrong.