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I took inspiration from Angela’s Back on Track Salad and a Nine Bean Salad recipe card I had hanging on my fridge to create a healthy, filling salad that can easily moonlight as an entree.

 colorful wheatberry bean salad

image credit: wholefoods.com

Soak wheatberries [can be found in the bulk section of Whole Foods] overnight. The next day, put in large pot of water; bring to a boil; reduce to low and simmer for 1 hour.

Combine chopped cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, red onion, and parsley or cilantro with canned or fresh corn, kidney beans, and chickpeas. Add wheatberries. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Pour on dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, mustard, and balsamic vinegar.

Try to let it sit for at least 4 hours to allow the juices to marinate. It may be impossible to resist, which is okay! I prefer it after it has been in the fridge overnight.

Note that this is a very easily customizable salad- you could throw in cannelli beans, navy beans, green beans, lima beans, edamame, or basil. Or use rice vinegar or red wine vinegar instead of balsamic. Use quinoa or rice instead of wheatberries. Let your imagination run wild.

wheatberry2 colorful wheatberry bean salad

image credit: culinary.net

This insanely hot weather has me craving light, healthy foods with colorful, fresh ingredients, so I am planning my menu accordingly.

chilled gazpacho from oh she glows

creative salad mixes

caprese salad

corn with japaleno lime butter

healthy smoothies in my magic bullet

creamy avocado pasta via oh she glows

eggplant sandwich inspired by the rockford

zucchini pizza bites from budget bytes ($1.32 per serving!)

Just in time for the new year, here is my list of websites and people who inspire me in different areas of life!

Decor

Photography

Cooking/baking

Personal development

Social enterprise

  • SocialEarth
  • Nest: Empowers female artisans around the world
  • Grant Tudor: A friend and GW alum! His tweets about social innovation are always interesting!

Business inspiration

  • The99Percent: It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen.
  • SpringWise: New business trends, ideas, and innovation

Some mornings I go for a run- let me tell you, it’s so much easier getting out of bed knowing that I have warm fleece running pants to slip in to and fun songs on my iPod.

I usually make breakfast at home- simple things like hard boiled eggs, cheese bread, applesauce, fake meat sausage, and/or fresh baked goods (like zucchini-carrot muffins!), or more complex things like breakfast sandwiches, frittatas, eggs benedict, and breakfast burritos.

My newest morning ritual is to put on music- specifically “Walking on Sunshine” by Aly and AJ. Cheesy? Yes. Inspiring? Definitely!

But come hell or high water, I will to Starbucks for my morning coffee (these days, it’s Pumpkin Spice Coffee- healthier and cheaper than a Pumpkin Spice Lattee!). Some people call this an addiction- I prefer “positive morning ritual.” We all need little treats, and Starbucks is mine. I performed a mini opportunity cost analysis (thank you, econ!) and having coffee 7 days week is about the same cost as a nice-ish meal out. I hereby choose to forgo the meal out and enjoy my little bit of heaven in a cup every morning. That’s all icon smile Morning rituals

pixel Morning rituals
+Cristina Roman