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The Impromptu Salad That Could

January  5, 2015

Every week we take a peek inside the lunches of the luckiest kids in Brooklyn. Read on, suppress your jealousy, and get a little brown bag inspiration. 

My kids love salads (I wish I could give you the formula for reproducing this trait; I have no idea why they do). I worry that green salads will wilt and turn soggy by the time they unpack their lunches, but heartier composed salads hold up tidily. Today was a fridge salad faking it as a carefully planned recipe. I had leftover beans (lima, navy, and a cute little green number that I found lurking in the back of the pantry, all simmered together and then tossed with loads of olive oil, thyme, and garlic), leftover steak, and a few fresh arugula leaves from the weekend greenmarket. Tumbled together in a bowl and spruced up with a little sherry vinegar, I was proud of my little impromptu salad that could!

For a sweet, I packed these macaroons by we eat. happy. that my daughter, Addison, made on her own (the chocolate chips were her tweak to the recipe) while I watched, drank coffee like a 70s mom, and recorded the action using Simmer.

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Looking more inspiration? Click here to see some of the twins' past lunches.

See what other Food52 readers are saying.

  • HRH
    HRH
  • Sue O'Bryan
    Sue O'Bryan
  • ATG117
    ATG117
  • Cristina Sciarra
    Cristina Sciarra
  • cookinginvictoria
    cookinginvictoria
Amanda Hesser

Written by: Amanda Hesser

Before starting Food52 with Merrill, I was a food writer and editor at the New York Times. I've written several books, including "Cooking for Mr. Latte" and "The Essential New York Times Cookbook." I played myself in "Julie & Julia" -- hope you didn't blink, or you may have missed the scene! I live in Brooklyn with my husband, Tad, and twins, Walker and Addison.

10 Comments

HRH July 31, 2015
Amanda, your daughter is so adorable- what personality!
 
Amanda H. July 31, 2015
Thank you!
 
Sue O. January 20, 2015
My son loves salads too, but I've yet to get him to meet a bean or a leaf of arugula. He likes caeser type salads which crunchy lettuces. Thank you for sharing the video! Amazing!
 
Amanda H. January 20, 2015
Beans and arugula are in his future, I bet -- Caesar salad is already a great start!
 
ATG117 January 6, 2015
this is fantastic!
 
Cristina S. January 5, 2015
Oh my goodness. She's amazing!
 
cookinginvictoria January 5, 2015
Wonderful! So great that Addison did everything herself. Love how she decorated the cookies "like Cyclops or with two eyes." :) Thank you for sharing, Amanda.
P.S. That salad looks pretty tasty too.
 
WHB January 5, 2015
Brava, Addison!
 
Cheazza January 5, 2015
This simmer video is adorable! Thanks for sharing.
 
Christine January 5, 2015
Fantastic! She did a great job.