Today was a picture perfect summer day!
I went to my first dance class! Faith (who is a professional dancer and has a BFA in dance) is teaching a mini series of dance exercise classes for the rest of the summer at my gym! The time (and teacher) could not have been more perfect. It’s a fusion of modern and ballet.
The class was a lot of fun – I pointed my toes, grand-pliéd and had fun remembering my 11 years of dance growing up. My FEET however, did not remember. Foot surgery + lots of tennis shoes and running left them quite fragile and weak. I need to work on that! Already excited for next week’s class 🙂
After class I smartly packed my bathing suit and book and went to the ROOFTOP of my gym to the pool! It’s not much of a pool – more like a dipping strip – but it was fun to submerge in water for the first time this year and then lounge in the cool shade. No sun for me! Just gorgeous views!
Eventually hunger got the best of me and I biked home (= HOT!)
Tea was waiting! I must start every evening with a drink other than water. These home-brewed teas are a great alternative to beer and water.
Althoughhhhh…I set out a beer for Matt to gulp as SOON as he crested the driveway = an excuse to have a few gulps myself! His Basil IPA has mellowed and the bitterness has gotten better – LOVE it!
Thanks to ME, dinner was already ready!!
We had a chilled millet salad topped with roasted chicken
The chicken was a sample from the new Organic Prairie line by Organic Valley. The same farmer-owned co-op who focuses on family farms for organic dairy now has a line of humanely-raised organic meats. I buy Organic Valley cheeses, cottage cheese and milk (often), and if you’re looking for conveniently packed meat, these vacuum packs are very nice. (I have to say, I’m a sucker for any meat that’s individually packed.) Also like what the company stands for! Right now you can order them online in bulk (thereby supporting the co-op) or at select local markets (one natural foods store here carries them.)
This morning I baked off the chicken for dinner smothered in this delicious spiced chutney that OpenSky sent. Two thumbs up: one for spice, one for flavor!
I also assembled a salad with 1 cup of cooked millet, 1 cucumber, all of my freshly picked tomatoes, 3 stalks of celery, red pepper
And about 25% of a jar of Trader Joe’s sun-dried tomatoes in oil plus half a lemon and salt
Then…THEN!!…I added feta. GOAT feta. The best feta I’ve ever had! I used to make a Greek Quinoa Salad similar to this one that inspired the meal and I would add big chunks of feta.
Obviously the feta made the salad!
Feta Millet Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup millet dry (because millet > quinoa, always and forever)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 small cucumber chopped
- 3 stalks celery
- Half a red pepper
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
- Half a lemon’s juice
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 4 ounces feta of your choice choose goat!
Instructions
- Cook millet with 1:2 millet to water for 15 minutes or so – until water is absorbed.
- Pour millet into bowl
- Chop all veggies
- Mix everything together
- Add feta
- Serve!
Serve the salad on the side or top with shrimp, chicken, beans of your choice
Matt proclaimed this the best dinner of the summer! Guess he was pleased he didn’t have to cook since he often says that when I make dinner 🙂
Tomorrow I’m headed back in to the bakery while Matt takes an afternoon to play. And then we have an evening party!
I’m so jealous of your roof top dipping strip 🙂 It looks like the perfect way to have spent your vacation day!
The dinner looks amazing – but I agree, feta totally makes the dish. I’ve been using it like crazy lately!
Kath, That looks AMAZING! I’m gonna make it with quinoa and shrimp!
I always think the feta makes the salad. 😉
I can’t believe how empty the dipping strip was on a such a hot day!!
That rooftop looks incredible! Totally surprising for C’ville.
And the millet salad sounds fantastic… I’m a sucker for feta!
~
love that pool on the rooftop! how fun and yes you did have a perfect day off. good for you 🙂
It makes me laugh when my husband says…this is the best blank I’ve ever had! I’m like, really?! It’s better than your moms?! I have yet to believe it! I agree that so much of the enjoyment comes when it’s just put in front of you to enjoy.
So fun that you are trying something new!
That view from your pool is gorgeous! What a fancy gym!
oh my goodness I <3 chutney!!! 🙂 That looks sooo delicious! 🙂
What a beautiful pool and a perfect place to relax for the afternoon. So glad you got some time to yourself! 🙂
I was hoping for a recipe when I saw the millet salad.
Hurray…. looks great. I can’t wait to make it.
Thanks.
um HI, that feta looks SOOO good. I <3 feta, so this would be a great option. And I love salads too….get my drift??! 🙂 YUMM.
I love dancing too! It always feels OH so good to be back, ya know?
That dinner looks so delicious! I just love roasted chicken. And those tomatoes look so cute!
This is such a lovely summer dinner idea! Absolutely perfect. And that is so neat that your gym has a roof top deck! Good for you for staying out of the sun – protect the skin!
I know what I’m making for dinner tomorrow – thank you! And…I’m super jealous about the rooftop pool – gorgeous!
That pool is gorgeous! I love infinity pools.
I work in the deli section of our gorgeous local supermarket, and I can definitely vouch for the fact that feta made of goat’s milk tastes far superior to cow’s milk feta.
Your dinner looks like the perfect summery-fresh meal. Actually, your whole day screams summer! =)
Now – wouldn’t it be nice if every day could be summer vacation! You used your day wisely it seems.
Question…I’m not “beer-educated” – um, what is IPA? (don’t judge – I do like to drink beer on a hot day…;) ).
IPA=India Pale Ale
Chilled summer salads are my FAVE when its hot out. This one looks delish! I gotta get some tips on how to cook millet up without burning and/or mooshing it!
Less time, lower heat!
That rooftop scene is beautiful! 🙂
That chicken looks fabulous! I’ve never tried millet–is it like cous cous?
Yup- similar. Like corn meal meets couscous
I love home brewed ice tea! Its the perfect summer drink 🙂
Feta makes everything better 😀
I love Kate Morton, her books suck me right in
Yay for dance classes and how cool that your gym has a rooftop pool 🙂
feta usually makes a summer salad 🙂 love the colours of the millet salad!
Sounds like a perfectly relaxing day!
Feta makes everything better. I recently discovered how awesome it is. 🙂
Gym with a rooftop and pool like that?!? Okay, I am jealous. And the salad looks fab, as does lavender mint tea. I’m a big “alternative grain” fan, but haven’t tried millet (yet)…must get on that!
That’s it!!
I am clearing my Sunday to lounge by the pool and read my book.
Thank you.
That gym rooftop/pool looks more like a spa than a gym! Sounds like a lovely relaxing afternoon!
That rooftop pool is amazing!! I would want to go there every day, ha.
Your salad looks fantastic! We will be trying this one for sure. I love the Organic Valley brand. I didn’t know they were adding meat as well. Thanks for the info.
I’ve just made the conscious effort to replace some of my blog reading with book reading – such a good decision 🙂 Love seeing what you read!
I would love that pool – with or without view, in a heart beat 😀
Feta definitely makes everything better 🙂 I just discovered millet and I love it!
What a great dinner idea!! I’ll have to try this, i love feta
Looks like you had a beautiful day! I love the idea of having tea instead of a cocktail… I’m feeling pretty boozed out but it’s so nice to make it still seem like a treat!
what a gorgeous rooftop pool! i often find that it is the cheese that makes a salad. sadly, my tummy doesn’t agree!
Carribbean spiced chutney = that is my kinda food! or condiment I guess you’d say. TJ’s makes a ginger mango chutney that I posted last week (and admitted to) I love it so much I could eat it with a spoon 🙂
The goat feta…you know I am not into cheese anymore but back when I used to eat cheese, goat’s milk cheese is stellar. I have many fond memories of vineyard hopping and eating goat’s cheese all over vineyards in CA 🙂
Feta makes it better 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
I can’t get enough of feta these days- this looks great!
My husband says the same thing: it is always better when I cook. 🙂
Mmmm, this would be a great veggie crowd pleaser for everyone! Definitely bookmarking this for future uses 🙂 I’m sure some fresh herbs such as basil, parsley and thyme would amp up the flavor 🙂 And maybe some nooch, too?
Yum looks great! And what a gorgeous rooftop, lucky you 🙂
Sounds like the perfect summer day! I’m totally jealous of your rooftop pool- even if it is small.
Dance class.. fun! Something I could never see myself doing..I’d flop around like a fish out of water!
Your feta millet salad looks delicious!
I wish my gym had a rooftop patio!! I can’t believe you had it all to yourself. Lucky!
I am absolutely loving grain salads this summer. Particularly cold grain salads. This looks incredible Kath.
Salad looks wonderful and so summery. Where did you purchase goat feta? That sounds so tasty!
@Whole Foods
Rooftop pool!? I wish I had one of those at home 😀
wow! what a great use of a roof!
What’s the low down on the lavender mint tea? Recipe please, because that is a combo of 2 of my favorite things!! Thanks!!
I wrote the recipe on the photos.
I’m definitely bookmarking this to make! It looks like something I could actually get my picky dad to eat – he won’t touch anything I make containing tofu, beans, beets or kale. 😛
That rooftop pool—and that dinner!—look incredible. I made a similar salad last night with bulgur, veggies, and fish, all topped with Trader Joe’s eggplant garlic spread. YUM!
I know, I know, this is a weird question, but somehow I think you’ll have an answer. With this summer weather, I’m having a tough time with chafing when working out and cycling. Is there anything such as workout underwear that keeps this from happening. You workout a lot. What do you do? Thanks for your input!
The only time I’ve had chafing is with shorts – thighs rubbing. I think it was because my shorts were too short and my thighs..a little too big at the time. Have you tried Body Glide? That helps a lot with this problem
Body Glide is my friend. So is cornstarch. Sometimes vaseline. All depends on the sport. I’ve just upped the ante this week with boot camp sessions, so I’m getting underwear elastic chafing in general and butt cheek chafing from the bike seat. Too much information I know. Thanks for your input!
That is SO awesome that Faith teaches dance classes at your gym. I was a dancer too and I miss having real, structured classes like that! I wish more gyms did that (yours really seems awesome!) See you in a few hours!
LOVE Goat Feta. The best topping to any salad, for sure. 😀
I haven’t been to an actual dance class since I was little…but no doubt it’d be fun!! If only it weren’t so darn expensive..and for that I’ll happily stick with Zumba 🙂
What an awesome pool! Looks like you had a great day off! I love your dinner! It looks so good! 🙂
That rooftop and dipping strip looks amazing!
On an unrelated note, I’m the type of person who has to have a little something sweet before I go to bed. I got inspired by some of your posts containing a berry/milk(cream)/granola-type snack that I made up a glass of blueberries, rasberries, soymilk, and pumpkin flax granola last night and it was delish!
Looks like a perfect summer day! It has been so hot where I am too and this recipe looks like a great dinner for a hot summer night – thanks!! Also, goat feta = yum, gotta find me some of that!
Looks like a perfect summer day! How’s the book coming? I only have about 40 pages left and I’m anxious to finish it and move on to another book. I’ve enjoyed reading it, but it just hasn’t excited me as much as I wanted it too if that makes sense. Kate Morton is a wonderful writer and I want to read more of her books, maybe this fall or winter. Right now I’m looking for either a quick, light, make-me-feel-good read or “the best book I’ve ever read” that I don’t want to put down. Any suggestions?
Delicious looking dinner, thanks for the recipe. Goats milk feta is some of the best feta.
It’s slow. Definitely not my favorite. But I’m liking it
I was able to finish it today. The problem was I liked it enough to not stop reading it, but it was fairly long and a slow read for me. I’m thinking I may try Sarah’s Keys next or something really light like the The Starter Wife or Tina Fey’s book, Bossypants.
The view from the pool is beautiful! Looks so relaxing!
I know you posted about making bagels EONS ago (in your old house, even!) But I finally made some of them! haha. They’re fabulous. Tell Matt THANK YOU for the wonderful recipe 🙂
Oh yay!
I am really jealous of that pool with the views. Amazing!!! What an awesome way to spend the afternoon. 🙂
I love feta!!!! I never knew there were different kinds of feta. I always thought feta meant goat cheese. I often refer to it as goat cheese. Hmmm…..now you’ve got me wondering. 🙂
Your salad looks delish! Feta is the BEST! Also, how cool that your gym has a rooftop pool! I live in western WA, where this would be a ludicrous idea. SO jealous!
What an awesome post… your gym pool is gorgeous… and WOW…that salad looks amazing, that’s on our next week menu fer sher… think I’ll use couscous.
An FYI for ATL area KERFers (KERFites?… KERFians?)… the organic prairie line is available at http://www.naturalfoodswarehouse.com/
their prices are great… best barney butter deals … love the store, not affiliated!
I am a HUGE fan of goat feta !! SO freakin amazing if you can find it. Working on a roasted red pepper hummus w. goat feta I’m going to post tmr or Fri 😉
Oh wow, thank you for introducing me to Organic Prairie’s website! I will definitely be ordering some organic meat! (And I love the “Meet the Farmers” section — quite a few of them are in the Midwest, which is bit ‘local’ for me :))
AH! I’ve been on the search for goat feta! Yum!
Goat feta sounds like a must-try. And that’s your GYM POOL?! Holy awesomesaunce… you lucky girl!
I just finished House at Riverton a couple weeks ago! What do you think of it? I enjoyed it, but not as much as The Forgotten Garden.
Hi Kath – why do you say “millet > quinoa, always and forever” ???
Meaning I just don’t like quinoa that much