It’s days like this that make me wish I owned a convertible – sunny, 78, and not a cloud in the sky!
Perhaps a different kind of “convertible” than I drove in high school though…
I’m pretty sure they don’t even make the tiny bumper cars otherwise known as Geo Trackers anymore. It was the car I inherited from my older brother when I turned 16, drove all through high school, and cleverly (…) named The Track Attack. I know.
Even though it weighed approximately 100lbs, and I felt as though I’d fly off the side of the road and into the sunset if I went faster than 40 miles per hour in her, I still have very fond memories of my first whip.
Whenever the weather got nice, my friends and I would fling back the top and remove the detachable back, then cruise around town with the wind whipping through our hair blasting everything from Tiffany to Dr. Dre and singing along at the top of our lungs. Then we’d fill up the tank for $.98/gallon. Gosh, those were the days!
I turned the keys over to my little brother when I went away to college so that he and others could continue the fun. And by others I mean the men that once stole our beloved Tracker out of my parent’s driveway and were found sleeping in it two blocks away later that day.
Just say no, people!
Anyway, the moral of the story is, a convertible would have been nice to cruise around in during this unbelievably unbelievable day, but a functioning sun roof and jog under the sun will have to suffice – until I get my Mini Cooper Convertible, that is. ;)
After said run I whipped up a super satisfying, no-cook springy supper – Mango, Orange & Avocado Salad.
Ok, I know I say this a lot – but seeeeeeeriously, if you’ve got to make one thing right away, it is this salad. Refreshing, energizing and you don’t have to cook a thing!
Start by segmenting 1 orange. Cut the top and bottom off, slice the peel and pith off by following the curve of the orange, then slice between the segment membranes to pop them out.
Next, peel and chop 1 mango. Cut the bottom off, peel the skin with a sharp knife or vegetable peeler, then cut the two “cheeks” off the pit and chop into bite-sized pieces.
Turn your attention to 1 avocado next. Slice the avocado in half by cutting around the seed and twisting the two halves apart. Then use a spoon to pop out the seed, or gently tap a knife blade into the seed and twist it out. Scoop out the avocado flesh, or do what I do and peel the skin off, then chop.
Toss the orange segment, chopped mango and avocado with a zippy homemade vinaigrette.
Just combine the juice of 1 lemon, 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar,
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, and 1 teaspoon agave nectar (or honey.)
Add in salt, pepper and 1 shallot that’s been microplaned or minced and shake, shake, shake!
Add the chopped fruits onto a bed of baby lettuces, top with cashews, more pepper, and a drizzle of that dressing.
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Mango, Orange & Avocado Spring Salad
Description
Mango, Orange & Avocado Spring Salad is refreshing, satisfying, and so simple to make!
Ingredients
- juice of 1 lemon
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar (could use honey)
- 1 shallot, microplaned or finely minced
- salt & pepper
- 1 orange, segmented
- 1 mango, chopped
- 1 avocado, chopped
- 6oz baby lettuce blend
- 1/4 cup cashews
Directions
- Combine lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, agave nectar, shallot and salt & pepper in a jar or bowl. Shake or whisk to combine. Toss orange segments, chopped mango and chopped avocado with the dressing. Divide lettuce between two plates, then top each plate with half the fruit mixture and half the cashews. Finish with a sprinkle of pepper, if desired.
Notes
Inspired by Healthy, Happy Life
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I so got this!! I drove an old 1987 chevy impala cop car, that…….drum roll please………ran on propane gas! My dad bought 2 from an auction and my brother got the other one :) He thought it would stop us from going very far, because you can’t just go to the gas station to fill it up! But you can however take it by the Co-op and fill ‘er up!! haha that thing was crazy fast, (I can’t say how I know that!) :D
Man, I miss $.98 gas! Those were the days :) I drove a 93 turquoise Altima in high school that I gave to my brother my freshman year of college when he got his license. He blew the transmission within 2 weeks. I was so mad at him for ruining “my” car! haha
Yum that looks delish! I looove mango!
My friends and I would always stare in confusion at the high school characters in American movies that had their own cars. We figured it must be sort of a rite of passage in the States to get a car when you were 16/17, (??) because in high school I only knew of one girl who had her own car, and she came from out of town.
I’m still using my first car which I got thanks to help from my dad when I was 20… a 2008 suzuki swift. At 22, I’d say I’m one of the only ones in my group of friends that has a car. I imagine having a car at a young age is even less common in places like Europe where public transportation is so awesome!
This salad looks delish. I have subscribed to your blog just recently and have really enjoyed all the great food recipes!
Cute little tracker! My husband had a red one just like your white one, now he has a 2000 Chevy tracker that he drives, he loves it; more for the mpg! :)
jodi
Wow that looks GOOD! I’m banging my head against the wall for not buying the (ON SALE!) mangoes at the grocery store the other day!
Love this salad! Just planted my spinach yesterday, so I can’t wait to get to make this fresh from my own garden! My first car was a ’93 Volvo named “Elvira”. I loved that car… therefore, my second car was a ’99 volvo named “Elmira”. LOL.
My Pontiac Sunfire was occasionally referred to as Sunny. (It reminds me of that Raygun shirt “Iowa City: All our creativity went into the name.”)
yum! That salad does look super refreshening!
And while I’d love a convertible, I’d be happy just with a sunroof…. ;)
I’m trying to make more salads lately (I’m really bad it, if you can even imagine that!), so dressing recipes are much needed!
This salad looks so great for these warm spring/summer nights!
Love your old car memories :-) If only gas were .98/gallon now! I’d be planning a road trip!
I remember a local radio station gave a Tracker away…news of Trackers having tipping issues came out and the DJ suggested changing the call letters of the station to “WKOL”(we kill our listeners). That has always stayed in my memory for some dumb reason! I’m showing my age here, but my first car was a 1971 red Chevy Vega I called the Vegematic!
I love that salad! This is the time of year I crave, make and can not get enough salads.
I drove a Z24 Cavalier named Sputnik and loved it :) I had it for 10 years until I bought my own adult vehicle :)
Your salad looks delicious!
I lived 2 blocks away from school, so I did not have a car in high school. I didn’t get my own car (Geo Metro..GO GEO) until the summer after my freshman year of college.
My first car was borrowing my parents Chevy Impala. I finally got a car my sophomore year in college. That would be considered child abuse by today’s standards.
I had a 87′ Pontiac Safari Station Wagon, complete with fake wood paneling. I loved the heck out of my tank, who I found named Bessie after her non-existent accelerating properties. I think there’s an unconscious reason why I have a Mazda sports wagon now!
i never see these anymore and it makes me so sad–they always reminded me of the first National Lampoon’s Vacation movie<3
oh man, your first car is classic! I loved the old pictures.
My first car was a 98 Ford Explorer named “The Hummer”.
The salad looks great, as always!
Oh boy, my first car was a 90 Pontiac Grandam. It was actually my grandfather’s old car that I sort of inherited. Ugh, it was a clunker! I then thought a Honda Civic in college that I LOVED! I just got rid of it a few years ago but still think about her. :)
Yummy looking salad, might have to make that for lunch tomorrow! Hilarious pics of the Tracker. I actually lucked out & got to drive a pretty sweet car when I turned 16 because my mom conveniently set her sights on a new one as I was getting my license. It was a 1996 Oldsmobile ’98 (confusing?), shiny & black with chrome. Kind of an old lady car but it was super fancy with leather interior, sunroof, & tons of bells and whistles. Ohhh, to be 16 again. ;)
That looks soooo yummy!!