Hi all, it’s Cat from The Rustic Willow! I have a few great loves in my life: my boyfriend and New Jersey included. But when it comes to food, two of my great loves will always be avocados and macaroni and cheese. I know, I know, “mac and cheese? Really?” you say. But I just can’t help myself. Whenever I need a good dose of comfort food, I whip up some creamy, delicious mac and cheese and have every spoonful chock full of cheesy, carby perfection.
I crave ice cream year round. Even on the coldest of days I will sometimes find myself think about my favorite ice cream. For as long as I can remember I have loved strawberry ice cream. I can remember when I was little going to the grocery store with my mom as her “helper”. She would always let me pick out a small little pint container of whatever ice cream I wanted. Every time I reached for the same thing. Not the crazy moose tracks, or candy filled ice creams…no, no, I always picked out homemade vanilla with strawberries by Blue Bell.
There is a quaint downtown square in the city where I live. It’s actually one of the last town squares that has all locally owned businesses still up and running. I have to say, I absolutely love that about the city where we live. It keeps our growing city filled with two major universities bustling with life, yet small and cozy at the same time.
We are pretty well known for the coffee shops and small eateries around town, of which there are many to choose from. It feels like every month a new restaurant goes up for business! But I love the old school ones…the ones that have been in business for years and years and who’s families run them.
I’ve been trying to eat a more healthful diet since falling off the clean-eating wagon during the holidays and being run over repeatedly. And then there’s the blog. Someone has to sample my recipes before I share them, right? I’ve officially delegated that entire job to my husband, my children and whoever happens to be at my home or walking by . . . for now. And what about winter? Why do I seem to eat more during winter? It’s not like I’m preparing to hibernate or anything.
We haven’t experienced too much cold weather here in the south (yet), but we have had an unusual amount of rain and cloudy days that seemed to turn into weeks. It could be downright depressing for a sun-loving girl like me if I didn’t have my citrus salad with toasted coconut and pistachios to cheer me up. It’s healthy, delicious and nutritious!
I was going to call my salad a deconstructed citrus salad with toasted coconut and pistachios and citrus balsamic vinaigrette, but man, that’s a mouth full! So I just gave it a nickname.
My citrus salad is light, refreshing and provides a crunch from the coconut and the nuts. The vinaigrette provides a smooth, sweet finish to this perfect winter dessert or snack.
