Watermelon Radish-Kale Slaw with Sugar Snap Peas.

rebel without a slawzzz?
ugh. puns...
Watermelon Radish-Kale Slaw with 
Sugar Snap Peas.

i won't do what you tell me.

I don't like being told what to do. Gentle nudging, helpful suggestions, even well intentioned advice- they all kick me into a sort of adolescent, contrarian hyper drive. 

This is why I sometimes (read: oftentimes) do things completely counter to my own self interest. 

My mother could probably write an entire book on this subject; though I really, really, really hope she doesn't...

Every now and again, though, that reflexive non-compliance has some small benefits.

Among them: it makes me relatively immune to advertising, cuts down on participation in contrived food holidays, unless they're donut-related (suck it, national nutella day), and means I'll rarely do anything just because I'm supposed to. 

This has all been a overlong way of confessing that I didn't join the masses and take to the grill on the Fourth of July, I slawed instead. 

And it was defiantly glorious.

i grew this. then i ate it.

Watermelon Radish-Kale Slaw with Sugar Snap Peas

(serves 4)

vegetables:

1 bunch watermelon radishes (about 3-4), scrubbed and peeled

1 bunch kale (about 7-8 leaves), I used a mix of red russian and lacanato

2c sugar snap peas, washed and de-stemmed

dressing:

1Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1Tbsp toasted sesame oil*

2Tsp extra virgin olive oil

1Tbsp rice vinegar

2tsp apple cider vinegar

1/4tsp ground sea salt 

1/4tsp ground black pepper

Whole Wheat Maple-Vanilla Waffles.

how we waffle.

Whole Wheat Maple-Vanilla Waffles

+

45 Hours in Detroit.

syrup IN the waffles.

It's a beautiful city, Detroit.

One that feels like it's just coming back to life. 

Full of characters and character. 

I fell, rather unexpectedly, in love with it.

A quick run-down of the things I did in my all-too-brief time there--

Sat in a restaurant and ate a vegan sandwich a mere 45 minutes after arrival. 

A new personal best.

Slept on, and watched the most spectacular sunset from, the 58th floor of a hotel with floor to ceiling windows.

Had some vegan soul food.

Saw some local hip hop.

Met some interesting people. 

Gazed at some stunning architecture.

Drank beers around a fire pit in the back alley of a bar.

Giddily wandered around Eastern Market on a beautiful Saturday morning- 

had to restrain myself from buying everything.

Ate two vegan hot dogs.

MacGyver-ed my party dress together with a travel kit needle and thread 

like a proper grown-up.

Watched my friends get married in the Diego Rivera mural room at the 

Detroit Institute of Art (WHAT?).

Drank my body weight in dirty martinis, IN A MUSEUM.

Danced A LOT.

Photobooth-ed (it's a verb now).

Rode on a post-wedding party bus to a bar that also served pie.

Stayed up until 4.

Slept for an hour.

Went to the airport.

Boarded the plane home still a *little bit*  drunk from the night before.

Was sad to leave.

I also returned home with a bag of Michigan-milled whole wheat pastry flour.

Not a weird thing to bring home in your checked baggage, right?

Forget snowglobes; foodstuffs are the best souvenir.

I've been saving it for something special.

These waffles are it.

best souvenir.

Whole Wheat Maple-Vanilla Waffles

(serves 2-4)

1Tbsp ground flax seeds + 3Tbsp boiling water

2c whole wheat pastry flour

2tsp baking powder

1/2tsp ground sea salt

1/3c coconut oil, melted

1 1/2c non dairy milk (i prefer walnut or coconut)

2tsp apple cider vinegar

1Tbsp vanilla

2Tbsp maple syrup