Fantastic Foodie Fridays Avocado, Endive & Apple Salad w/ Grapefruit Vinaigrette

Sometimes we just need a break from a heavy meal.  Here is a refreshing salad that is easy to make and on a hot summer day will keep you from having to turn on the stove or oven to get a meal on the table.

INGREDIENTS:

Grapefruit Vinaigrette
Makes 3/4 cup vinaigrette (including grapefruit segments)

• 1 ruby red grapefruit (about 10 oz)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp raw honey
• 1 tbsp thinly sliced basil (about 4 basil leaves)
• 1/8 tsp kosher salt
• Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Salad

• 2 Belgian endive, core removed and thinly sliced
• 1 crisp apple, julienned
• 2 radishes, thinly shaved
• 1/3 cup pomegranate seeds
• 1/8 tsp kosher salt
• Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 ripe avocado

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Prepare Grapefruit Vinaigrette: Cut skin from top and bottom of grapefruit and set grapefruit on a cutting board so it stands upright on one of the flat ends. Remove skin and pith from grapefruit with a sharp knife, cutting to the flesh from top to bottom all the way around. Hold skinned grapefruit over a medium bowl and cut in a “V” to remove individual segments from between the visible membrane “walls.” Reserve juices in bowl as you cut, then squeeze remaining membrane to release the rest of the juice once all segments are cut free. Discard membrane. Cut segments crosswise into quarters. Whisk oil and honey into juice, then stir in grapefruit segments and basil. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Prepare Salad: Gently toss endive, apple, radishes and pomegranate seeds with grapefruit vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
3. Cut avocado in half and remove pit. Cut each side in half again, creating 4 quarters. Scoop flesh from skin with a large spoon. Thinly slice each quarter of avocado lengthwise and fan pieces onto 4 plates. Top avocado slices with about 1 cup salad and serve.

Nutrients per Serving (1½ tbsp vinaigrette, 1 cup salad and ¼ avocado): Calories: 250, Total Fat: 15 g, Carbs 29 g, Protein: 5 g; Sugars: 14 g, Fiber: 13 g, Sat. Fat: 2 g, Sodium: 180 mg, Cholesterol: 0 mg

Stephanie Izard, winner of season four's Top Chef, creates a crisp salad for you to enjoy this season.

By Stephanie Izard | Photo: Gregory James, Food Styling: Jessica Colley

Catching up...

Well, unfortunately, this will cover 3 days worth of posting Tuesday, Wednesday & today.  Sorry, I wanted to catch up but with not really doing too much right now, it makes it hard to come up with a note worthy topic that I think you would want to read.  Basically at this point I am on bed rest till Monday.  I either have a really bad shin splint or a stress fracture.  My right leg is still pretty swollen & walking on it is enough to bring tears.  So, I am following Dr.'s orders and taking it easy.  Have a lovely pair of crutches, if I really feel the need to go any where.  Which I don't.  99 Days till I will be in Arizona doing it all over again with my Sister.  Once I get the go ahead I will start ( Slowly ) training again.   Chad was so moved by the short amount of time that he was around the 3-Day Staff, Crew and Walkers that he signed up to be a member of the Cleveland Crew next year.  

The day after the 3-Day...

This would be the post for August 1, 2011.  
I was blessed to receive all the mail that I did at camp.  I even got a sweet treat!  I re-read all the letters when I got home and I have to tell you that I was deeply touched by the letters.  I even got a few from people that I have yet to meet in person.  Going back over the 3-Day experience I can honestly say that I loved it, even though it didn't turn out how I had hoped.  I went to the VA Hospital in Erie today and was X-Rayed.  There is no break that we can see on the X-ray so I was given medication and strict orders to stay off my feet.  If I had to walk around it would be with the use of crutches for at least two weeks.  So, I will catch up on what I can while I am off my feet and then get to the rest when I am back on my feet.  I just want to say that you will never know how important letters are, even the simplest post card.  Till you do a 3-Day and see all the letters at the "post office waiting for you"...  It truly is touching & I want to extend a Heartfelt Thank You to each of you that took the time to let me know that what I am doing makes a difference!  
                                  XoXo

Day 3 of the 3-Day...

As I left Camp Sunday Morning...

This would be the post for Sunday July 31, 2011.  

As I entered into the last day with great anxiety, as I didn't know if I would be cleared by medical or not.  Luckily, I was given the go ahead.  As I left camp for the last time I didn't know how the day would go.  I just knew that I wanted to finish off strong.  The last day is always emotional for me, especially in Cleveland.  The people that come out along the route, that cheer you on, the stories and all the love that you feel as you take every step.  While every step that you take, brings you that much closer to the end of your journey.  

Just one of the moving sights found along the way.

I walked into and past pit one, then walked into pit two.  Leaving for the first cheering station for the day I was suffering.  I was determined to make it there.  After passing all of the people that came out to cheer us on I had to be put on to a sweep van.  Into the van in tears, I went.  Reaching pit stop three I was iced then taped.  Chad drove up and found me at the medical tent.  I was broken and I knew it.  We both knew it,  ( even thought I didn't want to admit it. )  

Chad getting ready to take off walking...

He knew how much I had trained and that my heart and soul is in this.  He gave me the car keys, took my credentials and pack and started to walk in my place.  He walked into the grab & go, to check it out.  Then continued to lunch where I was at medical again to be checked out by the trainer who did his best to tape me up giving me more support.  I became a "walker stalker" cheering on & playing music from my car as Chad continued to walk to pit stop four. 

Wonderful people coming out to cheer the walkers on.  

When I got to pit stop four we decided that I would park the car there, and we would walk into holding together.  He was a great support, and we took it one step at a time.  The gentleman that had walked with me on Saturday we ran into, he joined us as we walked to holding.  

Almost done!

While waiting for the last walkers to come in Chad got a ride back to the car and met with friends of ours that brought the boys up so that they could come to Closing Ceremonies.  I got the opportunity to walk into Closing Ceremonies with the ladies from Team Nickels for Nipples.  We were all suffering, but we each supported one another as we walked into the ceremonies.  Closing Ceremonies are always moving, but Dr. Sheri Phillips with her personality made you feel the words that she was saying.  It was wonderful.  I didn't want the 3-Day in Cleveland to end, it was bittersweet.  I look forward to doing the 3-Day again, next time in Arizona with my sister by my side.     

Trying to keep my Humor at the end...

Catching up on Day 1&2 of the 3-Day...

At Opening Ceremonies with Judi

This would be Saturday July 30th Post...
I made it through day one ( Friday ).  I had the opportunity to meet and talk to Dr. Sheri Phillips.  She is Amazing and is a Beautiful addition to the 3-Day Family.  Her Energy is nothing less than Infectious, with a Smile that could Light up any room, she is very approachable and easy to talk to.  Like a dear friend that you haven't seen in a while, but it doesn't matter, because you can pick up right where you left off like no time has gone by since your last visit. This is how I was left feeling after first meeting her.  

Leaving Cleveland...

Friday, it rained heavily for a while, then it got muggy.  Had to change shoes twice and my socks 5 times with all the puddles and rain.  Then right before reaching the end of day one, pit 5, I stepped out of the way of another walker, stepped of the curb wrong, tweaking my left knee.  I went into medical at pit 5 had them check it out and ice it.  1.5 miles from camp and I had to be driven in.  Once getting into camp I was checked out by medical there.  Given more ice, ibuprofen and told to rest for the night.  I finally got my picture with the New Balance Sneaker! 

Notes along the way by Cleveland's 3-Day Kid's Crew...

 It's the small things that make me so happy!  Ate a wonderful dinner then got a leg massage, then it was off to the shower to get cleaned up.  I picked up my mail & chocolate coin ( Thank you Sandi! ) I was off to bed.  In the confusion of everything on Friday I lost my digital camera that was in my backpack.  Saturday morning I got up at 3:45 still trying to find my camera to no avail.  Ate a great breakfast, then went and sat at medical to get cleared to walk again.  Getting clearance in the morning, I was out on the course at 6:45.  Felt pretty good walking for a while.  Starting around pit 3 I started to have pain in my right leg.  Went into medical and had my leg iced & taped.  Continued on for a while finally having to concede while trying to walk to a cheering station between pit 4 & 5.  I had a gentleman that offered to walk with me for a while leaving pit four.  We walked all the way to Rocky River together.  In tears he put me on the sweep van to take me to the medical tent at pit 5.  Once again icing my leg and trying to tape it another way to get me back into camp.  I started off slowly out of pit 5 thinking if I just went slower I could make it.  Every step I took I felt the pain.  I kept trying to convince myself that I was only 3 miles away from camp.  One of the staff, Phil from lunch came running by and stopped to talk to me.  He offered to run to camp and get some popsicles and run them back to me.  As hot as it was I told him that it wasn't necessary, although I was touched by the offer.  We talked for a bit then he took off running.  I made it about another 1.5 miles before having to call it a day.  In the first two days I lost 4 miles off the course.  Getting back into camp I went straight to medical.  I spent a little over an hour there getting iced & wrapped only to get the dreaded RED CARD!  

The Dreaded "RED CARD"

Upset, but not giving up hope I ate dinner iced, took a shower and then watched the camp show before going off to bed.  Tara gave a very moving speech and the youth corps came up after she finished.  Each girl giving her reason for wanting to be there to help out.  It was very moving.   I wanted to stay for the dance party but knew that my leg was in no shape to do so.  Ice, medication & off to bed for me to be ready for day three.

The Best Sight when you come "HOME" from Walking in Cleveland.