Green Juice Salad is a spa-like salad packed with my favorite green juice ingredients!
First of all, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all your congratulations and well wishes regarding our baby news! Honestly, I was a little nervous to share (no idea why) but the outpouring of sweet and excited comments, messages, and emails really touched me, and my entire family for that matter. We can’t wait for July to get here!
Yesterday we shared the gender with my family by having them each open a bag (Target was out of gender-neutral yellow and orange – for Easter, me thinks) with an article of clothing inside. Once opened, they visually assembled the outfit to see whether it was boy or girl themed. Squeals were heard for miles.
I think I’ll bake you guys some cupcakes with pink or blue frosting inside for the blog reveal….coming soon! ;) (This picture of Evie is not a hint, I am just obsessed with her.)
In other news, we’re all feeling Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day pain around here as it’s been snowing. AGAIN. I sprung for flowers at the store this weekend simply so I could remember what the world looks like with a little bit of color!
$5/bouquet at Target. I am not mad at that!
I also whipped up something bright and healthy to give my skin a bit of a glow if the sunshine can’t (er, won’t!) – a Green Juice Salad.
I’ve been a juicer (that sounds weird) on and off for, gosh, the past 8 years or so, but I’ve really kicked it up a notch since finding out I was pregnant. These days I aim to juice Ben and myself an 8oz cup of fresh juice 3-4 mornings a week. The combos are endless, but for me the greener – THE BETTER.
This salad is the whole-food version of one of my favorite green juice concoctions – spinach, cucumber, green apple, and lemon (not green, I know) with some additional green goodies thrown in like green grapes and avocado. The result is a salad so healthy that it almost feels spa-like. And who doesn’t like spas?!
At Spa de IGE we also add marinated and sauteed chicken on top of our salads for staying power. That way male spa attendees don’t claim they’re starving 4 minutes after consuming.
Anyways! Start with the Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette that also serves as the chicken marinade. In a jar or bowl combine 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1/4 cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons worth,) and 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
Next add 1 Tablespoon honey and lots of salt & pepper.
Microwave the mixture (without the lid!) for 20 seconds to melt the honey, then shake what yo mama gave ya! Alternatively, you could whisk the mixture in a bowl. Taste then adjust seasonings if necessary.
Now pour 1/2 the marinade into a plastic bag with 12oz chicken that has been seasoned with salt & pepper and let it marinate while you assemble the salads.
Organic baby spinach is always included in my juices, so the base of my salad started with a mixture of Dole’s Baby Spinach, and Hearts of Romaine, for crunch.
Mix together 4 cups each, then divide between 2 plates.
Next top each salad with half a chopped avocado. I cut mine in half then peel the skin away vs scooping it out with a spoon.
On top of that goes 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced or chopped…
and 1/2 cup sliced green grapes each. I LOVE GRAPES!
Finally slice 1/2 English cucumber then split between the plates.
Saute the marinated chicken in a hot skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink then chop and sprinkle on top. Drizzle with the remaining Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette, then serve!
Green Juice Salad
Description
Green Juice Salad is a spa-like salad packed with my favorite green juice ingredients!
Ingredients
- 4 cups Dole Baby Spinach
- 4 cups Dole Hearts of Romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 English cucumber, sliced
- 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 1 cup green grapes, halved
- 12oz chicken
- salt & pepper
- For the Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette/Marinade:
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- salt & pepper
Directions
- Combine ingredients for Honey-Lemon Vinaigrette/Marinade in a jar or bowl then microwave for 20 seconds. Shake or whisk to combine then taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Season chicken with salt & pepper then place into a plastic bag and add half the vinaigrette. Marinate at room temperature while you assemble salad.
- Mix spinach and romaine lettuce then divide between two plates. Top each plate with half the cucumbers, apple, avocado, and grapes. Heat a skillet over medium high heat then spray with non-stick spray. Cook chicken for 4-5 minutes a side, or until no longer pink in the center, then remove to a plate to cool slightly. Chop then divide between two plates. Drizzle with remaining vinaigrette, season with more salt & pepper, and then serve.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Whether you have a juicer or not, this is a great salad for when you need a boost of vitamins, minerals, and good for you food. Hope you enjoy!
Aw, can’t wait to find out what it is! Whatever it is, your sister in law (I think) looks super excited! This salad looks like a perfect and healthy green treat, yum!
So excited for your growing family!
I totally missed the baby announcement post! CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a blessing :)
Can’t wait to find out what you’re having and try that salad!
Keep up the great blog!
this looks like the salads i eat when my mister is out of town for work. also, this dressing recipe from you has been a hit at a few dinner parties over the past few months! (congrats again on the babe!)
I’m still giggling about you posting lyrics to “My Girl” on Facebook yesterday without intending it to be a clue. That’s totally something I would do.
Oh I felt like such an idiot afterwards. Didn’t even occur to me!
I hope the blog gender reveal is coming soon!! :) This salad looks delish – will be the perfect dinner for tonight after an overindulgent girl’s weekend ;)
Oh man, I’ve been checking all day to find out the gender–what a tease!! I’m due with my first (twin boys) July 13th. Congrats!!
I made cupcakes with blue filling and a question mark on top, to tell my co-workers the gender of our baby! Everyone loved it. Got the idea from Pinterest :) – http://pinterest.com/pin/4081455883887433/
We wrapped up a big box full of balloons and let the little cousins open it up for everyone. They were so thrilled to see the balloons spilling out everywhere. We got it from pinterest too ;)
The salad looks so fresh and yummy. I went a little over board buying seeds for a veggie garden this year. I think the snow is getting to me. And what a cute idea for a gender reveal!
Congrats!! I love your blog and I was so excited to read the news on Friday! Can’t wait for the gender reveal! Also, I’m glad to hear you will continue your focus on posting recipes (I make meals from your blog all the time), but I would love to see baby updates/photos as well (if you are wanting to share)!
OMG!! I hadn’t had a chance to check your blog for over a week due to a crazy busy work schedule & look what I missed! Stupid work! CONGRATS!!! :) So excited for you! You guys will be wonderful parents! Looks like I have some blog entries to catch up on!
Also, me thinks a bump picture is in order along with the bloggy gender reveal. ;)
I completely agree with this statement :D
Yup. Bump photo for sure! :)
Finn & Evie are going to make such great big cousins!
So very excited to find out the gender!! I have been checking all weekend hoping you’d spill the beans!! eeekkkk!
My mom and dad have the same little knickknack holder thing on the wall!
GAHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!! I meant to comment on Friday’s post but I hit “read” on my reader by accident.
Now I know why you deleted the comment that was ahead of me, a few weeks ago – where the person was saying “Does anyone else suspect Kristin is preggers?” or something. Remember that?? HAHA That got me thinking then, from there on. I was wondering where all those photos of you weren’t on your blog anymore. Well.. NOW I KNOW. Jeesh!
YAY YAY YYAYYYYY!!
Can’t wait to find out the sex. It’s been a freezing, snowy day here, so your salad really cheered me up. Spa on a plate!
Congrats on the baby news! Both genders are pretty great so no matter what you’re going to have an exciting new phase of life (I can’t believe my older two are adults now, and the two babies are inches away from 16 and 14.)
I cannot wait to hear the baby gender news!! It sure looks like your family members were awfully excited with the reveal!
Also, gorgeous flowers. I am now even MORE in the mood for Spring!
I made sex-reveal cupcakes for a coworker after she found out she was having her 2nd boy. It was fun to see everyone’s reactions when they bit into them. :) It’ll be just as fun once you share with us what you’re having!
Super cute idea with outfit assembly… So exciting!!…
That first picture is so fantastic. Was yesterday just so much fun?
I really want this salad now.
What a neat idea to transform green juice into a salad :) I’m a bit late on Friday’s announcement, but CONGRATULATIONS!
Ahhhh! What a tease! I was so hopeful we would find out today:)
Either way, that photo of your family is adorable. Looks like the a happy crowd!
Great idea for the salad. Avocado in a salad always works for me!
And the proprietress of Spa IGE needs the protein these days. Killer salad; I may spring that on my guy (with a protein too) someday soon. = )
Aww Congrats. I have a question As far as the juice that inspired this recipe do you juice the spinach as well?
I’m also due in July. The eighth. So excited for you
Congratulations! That is most wonderful news!
I want some baby bump pics!
That salad looks really yum!
I love having fresh flowers in the house, $5 is super cheap too. I always try and hint at my bf to buy me flowers but usually end up buying them myself at the market :)
SOOOOOO excited for you! I am due with our first in 8 shorts weeks! It goes by sooo fast! We are having a baby girl. I hope you will do a family tab so we can follow along! So cute!
I’m so excited for your new addition!! I follow you on FB, Instagram and of course your blog. I know you are ecstatic to become a mom!! Please put up a preggo pic too when you let your readers know the sex of your baby! I know your just adorable with your little belly!! Congrats again, excited to see if it’s a boy or a girl!! Have fun and enjoy!!!
Congrats! My older child is a 4th of July baby.
Congrats! I am so excited for you and your husband. Motherhood is the BEST!
Congrats on the little one!! Pregnancy was my all time favorite experience ever. I’d stay pregnant forever if I could…..no kidding!! I loved it that much. Here’s to a healthy baby and mom!
Congrats on your pregnancy, glad to hear it has been such smooth sailing so far. I actually just found out we are pregnant with our second, and so far this pregnancy I have noticed a lot more nausea, so it’s already got me thinking it might be a boy, since I hardly had any with our little girl. I’m excited to hear more updates and find out what you’re having!
Aww everyone looks so excited!! :) I can’t believe you’re still holding out on us! ;)
So excited for you guys!!!! dnmaiofjdaklfmclkgmiopad (that’s me excited:))
I have a question…did you have someone open up a bag with say…a sock first (to be more vague) then the last bit was a skirt or flannel shirt or something? Just wondering how a little boy or little girl outfit wasn’t oobvious by the first package opened?!
Thank you so much! They all opened their bags at the same time then looked at what everyone else was holding up. :)
Those grapes look so yummy!!! I hope you do the gender reveal on a Friday favorites post!
Congratulations! I am looking forward to seeing the cupcakes!
Aww what a tease! That first picture is super cute! Can’t wait for that cupcake post.. and I wanted to cry on sunday when I woke up to all that doggone snow. Hurry up spring!
Yay for babies and for salad! Two of my favorite things! Not together of course, that would just be weird. Heh. But congrats!!
[…] Green Juice Salad (Iowa Girl Eats) – This look absolutely delicious! […]
I wanted to let you know my freezer is stocked full of your lovely recipes for after my baby boy gets here! Which is hopefully any day now! So, thank you in advance for making my tummy very happy :) I’m very excited for you guys!!!
Can’t wait for the gender reveal. I’m hoping you post a picture of your baby bump. My kids are all grown up now, so I have to live through other people’s babies. A local friend is down to her last month, with her little girl, and I just found out someone else is due in the summer, too. I think I’m going to make this salad for supper tomorrow. I need spring, too!
[…] Green Juice Salad- Iowa Girl Eats […]
[…] also made a tasty salad for dinner today. The recipe is from Iowa Girl Eats. I forgot cucumbers but it was really tasty without them, though maybe a little more lemony than I […]
I just made this chicken using lime instead of lemon. It is really yummy. I have it over a green salad. Thanks for posting
[…] How couldn’t a salad be healthy and perfect with varies of fruit and vegetables? This salad is undeniably a juicy green treatment with avocado, green grapes, lemon, green apple, cucumber and spinach. I bet merely knowing the combination will make you love it. It is so marvelous that almost make you feel spa-like. Besides, the adding of sautéed chicken and marinated will let you feel full longer on fewer calories. Can you resist the temptation of such a brilliant dish with abundant nutrition, adorable appearance and juicy flavor? I think the answer is no! At iowagirleats.com […]
[…] little man already has quite the collection, from the shoes we used to surprise my family at the gender reveal (which I remember thinking there was no possible way a baby’s foot could fit inside […]
[…] Recipe & Photo credit to iowagirleats.com […]