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Top Of The World

Today was a picture perfect summer day!

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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 🙂

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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!

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Eventually hunger got the best of me and I biked home (= HOT!)

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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.

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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!

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Thanks to ME, dinner was already ready!!

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We had a chilled millet salad topped with roasted chicken

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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.)

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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!

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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

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And about 25% of a jar of Trader Joe’s sun-dried tomatoes in oil plus half a lemon and salt

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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.

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Obviously the feta made the salad!

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Print Pin

Feta Millet Salad

This salad would be great to take to a potluck picnic in the summer! The big cubes of feta and sun-dried tomatoes are key ingredients, but mix and match with what you have on hand, like kalamata olives or capers. You can also sub in quinoa, couscous or other grains.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 Servings
Author Kath Younger

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!

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Serve the salad on the side or top with shrimp, chicken, beans of your choice

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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 🙂

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Tomorrow I’m headed back in to the bakery while Matt takes an afternoon to play. And then we have an evening party!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Cait's Plate says

    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!

    Reply

  7. Kim @ Spoonful of Sass says

    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.

    Reply

  10. charyll ruggeroli says

    I was hoping for a recipe when I saw the millet salad.
    Hurray…. looks great. I can’t wait to make it.
    Thanks.

    Reply

  16. Amy says

    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! =)

    Reply

  17. Baking 'n' Books says

    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…;) ).

    Reply

  25. Hilary says

    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!

    Reply

  30. Hannah says

    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!

    Reply

  34. Nikita says

    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!

    Reply

  36. Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga says

    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 🙂

    Reply

  40. Namaste Gurl says

    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?

    Reply

  49. Fran says

    What’s the low down on the lavender mint tea? Recipe please, because that is a combo of 2 of my favorite things!! Thanks!!

    Reply

  51. Hillary says

    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!

    Reply

  52. Bekah says

    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!

    Reply

    • KathEats says

      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

      Reply

      • Bekah says

        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!

        Reply

  53. Ashley G says

    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!

    Reply

  57. Lisa says

    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!

    Reply

  59. Katie says

    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.

    Reply

      • Katie says

        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.

        Reply

  61. Jack O'Brien says

    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 🙂

    Reply

  62. Jennifer says

    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. 🙂

    Reply

  64. Susan Mc says

    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!

    Reply

  66. Jill in Chicago says

    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 :))

    Reply

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