Everyday Eats: Mediterranean Salad Shakers
Now’s the time of the year when everyone starts making lists.
It starts with lists of what they wanted to achieve last year, followed by big red checkmarks and “x”s by what they did and didn’t achieve. It’s a real “feel good” exercise.
Then, in the afterglow of their successes and shadows of their failures, they make lists of what they want to achieve next year.
If I’ve learned anything in 2011, though, it’s that no matter how many checks you mark, that’s not a guarantee of anything. Least of all contentment.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy. But that has nothing to do with what was marked off my list and what wasn’t.
This year, instead of setting lofty accomplishments, my list is a little more…basic.
I want to start using scissors to cut off the little plastic taggie thingies on socks and shirts instead of ripping them off with my teeth and telling the girls, “Don’t do this.”
I want to actually find the plastic taggie thingy out of the carpet instead of promising to find it when I vacuum.
I want to bend over and pick up the plastic taggie thingy when I’m vacuuming instead of picking it up, moving it into the path of the vacuum and then trying to vacuum it up.
I want to vacuum.
I want to use keyboards less and crayons more.
I want to worry more about what certain people think of me, specifically the three that spent nine months in my womb or the last eight years married to me. Lord help them.
I want to make those people more salads, put them in pretty jars and deliver them with love.
Mediterranean Salad Shakers
(Inspired by a Pinterest find and the Whole Foods cold case version)
Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette:
- 1/2 c. orange juice
- 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
- 1 T. orange zest
- 1 T. brown sugar
- 1/2 t. salt
- 1/2 t. black pepper
- ~1/2 c. olive oil*
*can substitute water for 1/2 of oil for a reduced fat version
Salad:
- 1/2 c. garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 c. cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 c. black or Kalamata olives, sliced
- 1/2 orange bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 2 c. spinach
- 2 T. chopped almonds
For dressing, whisk or blend together orange juice, vinegar, orange zest, brown sugar, salt, pepper and oil.
Pour approximately 1/4 c. of dressing in the bottom of a large Mason jar.
Layer remaining salad ingredients in the jar.
I like to add the beans next so they can kind of marinate in the dressing until the eater eats.
Then I go in order of moist moisture to least to prevent sogginess to the crunchier items.
Tomatoes.
Olives.
Peppers.
And carrots.
Press ingredients down and then stuff in as much spinach as you can.
That’s another good goal for 2012.
Finish salad off with almonds, that will stay nice and crunchy with their spinach buffer.
Put on the lid and refrigerate until putting in a lunchbox. Or a face.
You’ll want to pack a fork and a big bowl, because eating straight from the jar can be tricky.
Like vacuuming taggie thingies tricky.
But if you empty the jar upside down in a large bowl, you’ve got a delicious and healthy tossed salad, free of sogginess and that laborious task of tossing.
Today I delivered one to that guy that spent the last eight years married to me.
With some Ranch Oyster Crackers to sweeten the deal.
Look at me, knocking things off my list and it’s not even the New Year.
I think that means I can put off vacuuming in 20102 for a few more weeks. Like 52.
But crayons?
Those can’t wait.
*************
I’m honored to share that Peas and Thank You has been named one of The Oregonian’s Grant Butler’s Top Five Cookbooks of 2011. Read the rest of the list here!
What a great idea! Does anyone remember when McDonald’s had Salad Shakers? I loved ‘em even though it was all iceberg lettuce and maybe 2 shreds of a carrot!
Do they still have them? They need to bring those back
I don’t know. I haven’t been to McDonald’s in years!
congrats on the awesome list making lovely! you deserve it. hang in there, you know that the plan is mapped out and crayons maybe more on the list…but you’ll draw a beautiful picture!
I just read your post on resolutions. LOVE it.
Did you get this idea from Pinterest!? Yours looks so Yum.
I did! (you’ll see the note/link under the recipe title)
I am loving the idea of salads in a jar. I’m doing a salad series on my blog this week and this idea is perfect!
I am loving the idea of a salad series!
That looks delicious! Genius too… Thank you for posting it.
I have a tip for you… but it requires a teensy bit of organization. Those fiddly plastic bits…they can be avoided if you actually cut the tags off over the garbage/recycle bin. Poof, they disappear into (hopefully) recycling land, along with the tag, and no vacuuming is required! (for that part of life anyway). Now all you need to organize are the scissors. And…well… the bin I guess.
But it works! Honest! 
Much better than teeth…save those for the salad…
The crayons now, are a total must.
Have fun! (Have you discovered smencils???) 
I love your tip!
Now what ARE smenncils?
I had some Smencils sent to me at work last year! They’re pencils that smell good enough to eat, which sounds kind of dangerous, now that I type that out. Anyway, they smell good and fruity (if they made a basmati brown rice or tahini smencil, I would be all about it.)
Oooh, I’m intrigued! I’ll get to work on that tahini scent for you. Maybe throw it up in some hair gel.
Yes, smencils are scented pencil crayons (or even pens now.. I think they are called “smens”? Doesn’t have the same ring to it…) made from recycled newspaper. They do make a fun gift. Have a look at smencils.com …the girls would love them
.
Going to make that salad soooooon!
I saw something like this on pinterest also – thanks for the recipe, looks like a great lunch to pack for work!
I’d been wanting to remake it since I had the Whole Foods version for $5, and then I saw the Pinterest version and I knew it must be mine!
This looks fantastic! I’m trying to find new ways to reinvent salads and this is perfect. I was also the proud recipient of your cookbook as a Christmas gift! I can’t wait to dig into it
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Fun that you got the book for Christmas! Enjoy!
Thanks so much for a wonderful post that really made me think. Then made me cry. Then urged me to change as well. A life lived in fast forward all the the time isn’t really the life I want. Thanks for the reminder to re-evaluate.
Don’t cry. Just enjoy the rest of this year before you start stressing yourself out about the next
Gracias!!! I have to admit- my favorite recipes are “no-bake” ones!
Easy peasy!
What a great idea! I see myself taking lots of these for lunch to school next semester!
Plus they are so pretty, you’ll look forward to eating them!
This is a lovely idea! Your photos are absolutely gorgeous and I can’t get over how splendid this is! I love packing salads but I hate when everything gets soggy! I may just try this tomorrow
Thanks, Anna. I’ve worked a lot on my photography (though it really isn’t something I’m crazy about). Hope you try the salad and love it!
First Oats in a Jar, now Salads in a Jar.
I’m relatively sure that my jars are on the verge of telling me to, “Can it!”
Well played.
Ugh. Conviction. I need to bust out crayons more too. Maybe even paint and yarn.
I draw the line at paint. Cleanup can’t take longer than the actual task.
ok, i am absolutely packing my lunch salads this way from now on!
Try it! You’ll like it!
What a deliciously awesome idea! I’ll be using this to pack salads for school! I like the attention to sogginess…crucial and often overlooked when I pack salads.
Sogginess and I aren’t friends. That’s why I’ve never really liked cereal.
I feel exactly the same way about the new year. Maybe not as much time vacuuming, but more quality time (and less DRAMA).
LOVE this idea for a salad. My husband’s coworkers would probably make fun of him if I sent him to work with this – but it would be worth it.
Happy New Year – hope it full of family, fun, good health and lots of smiling
I’m curious to see what Pea D’s co-workers said today. But they are used to this kind of thing by now
I love the whole salad in a jar thing – You’re the best.
No YOU are!
THREE in your womb?
And I’m all for more vacuuming.
I noticed this too! Is there something you’d like to share, Mama Pea
Oh HELLLLLLL no.
Nope, two in the womb, one that has been imprisoned, er, I mean married to me for eight years.
I totally thought that, too! That’s actually why I was reading the comments
Hmm…perhaps I need to clarify in the post
Me too! I will admit my lazy ass rarely ventures out of Google reader but for potential life milestones I had to investigate.
Sorry to make you go to all the extra effort
I love vinaigrette sooo much! And silly me~when you said “that guy who married me” I was confused thinking, “which guy?” And congratulations on the Oregonian! You deserve it
Thanks! As far as I know, there’s only one guy dumb enough…
Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette sounds amazing! I love a good balsamic dressing
It’s a nice change! Hope you guys had a great Christmas!
You are a goddess for putting up a post that doesn’t involve sweets. If I see one more piece of chocolate I might vom, and that is a huge deal because I love dessert.
Please check out my first blog giveaway if you have time!! It’s super fun, and I have a feeling you would think its cute!
http://www.giraffelegs.com/2011/12/peapack-mitten-giveaway/
=)
-Nicole
I’m kind of sweeted out myself. I’ll check out the giveaway…thanks!
Okay, this is pretty darned brilliant! I pack lunch for my boyfriend and me every day and these need to start going into the rotation. Here I thought I was clever putting the salad dressing on the side in itty bitty ball jars. Add large ball jars on the list for my next Target run!
I love your goal of caring what those certain people think; it is too exhausting worrying about everyone else. Been there. Done that.
Exactly. I didn’t want to say that I don’t care what everyone else thinks…because I do love you guys. But I can’t please everyone all the time. It’s about time I stopped trying!
Man- this IS such a good idea!! I pack lunch every day for work, and 10 out of 10 times, it’s a salad. I’ve put dressing on the bottom of a container before, but I’m thinking that it would be much more likely to stay ‘in place’ at the bottom of a tall jar. And I love making my own dressing- even if it’s just something as simple as hummus mixed with balsamic vinegar. I just got a Vitamix, so I’m going to be a salad dressing (and everything else) making machine now!
I love the hummus + balsamic idea. I’m on that one. Enjoy your new friend!
what an awesome idea! i love this!
I’m making these for a road trip I am doing in 2 weeks. Its so much healthier and cheaper than anything I can buy on the road.
Great idea! They’d pack wonderfully in a cooler.
Can’t wait to do this!!
I feel like I should make a week’s worth of these and just line them up in the fridge. I’m an horrible salad maker, but LOVE salads! Pitiful combination.
It was fun to see Grant Butler’s article this morning! YAY! He’s got good taste, obviously.
I think they would last for several days, just make sure you layer correctly. Thanks for the congrats on Grant’s article. He’s such a great guy.
Love this post! Good goals for all of us, and that salad looks absolutely amazing! Congrats on the cookbook honor, you deserve it!
Thanks, Erin!
What an awesome idea! I love anything that involves a mason jar, so I’ll definitely be testing this out in the new year.
Mason jars are just cute, huh? It almost makes me want to organize things in them. Almost.
Sure, now that I’ve got a brand new salad container and a brand new longer-than-it-is-tall lunchbag to fit said container for Christmas, you go and give a mouthwatering idea for containing salads vertically. Well bah humbug!
Maybe I’ll just have to switch it up every so often and break out the old brown paperbag to give this idea a go. 
Or you could lay the jar on its side?
I’m in agreement about shooting for the simpler, basic things in life. I am craving some simplicity and the opportunity to hone my relaxing skills. I want to worry less about things that are out of my control and perfect the ones that are. I want to make a beautiful salad in a jar and then eat it.
That’s such a cool idea! I almost wish I had to leave the house to go to work so I could pack this. Almost. Maybe I’ll pretend and take it to my office at home to eat it, lol. 
I won’t hold it against you! And your new Avatar is hilariously great
Such a great idea for some portable nutrition! The dressing sounds amazing too!
Portable nutrition sounds so responsible
these are so cute.
and i dont like to vacuum….but boy is it rewarding when it is all said and done!
Funny part is, Pea D got the vacuum out tonight and he hasn’t even read this post yet.
Oh definitely a keeper. I love salads but truthfully…I don’t really take them for lunch because of sogginess issues. Problem solved
It’s all about layering. I do the same thing when I pack sandwiches. Pickles and tomatoes can never touch the bread directly or it’s instant sog!
I could write a book about my bread issues. Has to be very very very fresh and that is hard to find so I rarely bother. I will occasionally make BocaMacs and the special sauce (hello thousand island with relish…not that hard to figure out) has to go between the boca burgers so it doesn’t make the buns soggy. Soggy buns are noooooo good
A Boca Mac sounds really good right now. It’s 6:18 a.m.
I just saw this idea somewhere else too. Kinda love it, especially because my husband is always complaining that taking salads to work is such a process. Not anymore
You probably saw it on Pinterest! (not that I’m addicted)
Oh golly, the moving-things-into-the-path-of-the-vacuum thing? Totally do that. I do think all of these food-in-jar creations are gorgeous, but where do you (and other bloggers) find all these jars? Or are they leftover pickle jars and things?
This jar was from a xmas gift that had tea in it!
LOVE it!! So creative AND functional. I may not be married to you, nor did I ever spend time in your womb, but for what it is worth, I think you rock in a major way Mama, vacuum skills or not.
Well, thanks. And for the record, I care what you think. <3
<3
And also, I am super stoked to make everything from your cook book. So.Awesome.
your blog looks great on my new laptop! so bright and happy. i buy this salad shaker from WF all the time. i have also bookmarked a bunch of mason jar meals. i just need to follow your lead and make this recipe! enjoy your carbs tomorrow!!! xo
I think my blog looks bright and happy because you are on drugs. Just sayin’
Give. Me. Carbs.
What a fun and yummy idea!
i love reading your posts! ur the coolest mom ever. ur super funny, smart and pretty
just thought i would let u know.
Aww, thanks. You made my night
Awwww, you always make me smile!! I just pull my new socks or tags off my clothes…bad bad…the little tags live everywhere! EEKKKKK
Ok, FAB idea, I see it at WF’s all the time…but not in glass {which I prefer!}!
Have a great day of non vacuuming!
xxoo
So long as you aren’t biting those tags off, you are in better shape than me.
The thing with vacuuming is that the floor will always need to be vacuumed again…so needing to be vacuumed is kind of the inherent state of the floor and there’s no need to fight nature by vacuuming, right? Just go with it. I like the same philosophy for making beds. Total waste of time.
Sounds good doesn’t it? Not as good as the salad though…I’m going to have to buy those jars so I can try it.
You are so logical. I love it.
I need to do this for college. Such a good way to transport salads. I always find it hard to pack a salad, tupperware works but can take a lot of room. I return next week, can’t wait to try it out with my busy schedule!
Salad in a jar? What a brilliant idea! I need to try that soon! Then I won’t have to carry the dressing in a separate box or jar, which is kind of annoying.
But you do need to bring a bowl to eat it in, which might also be annoying…
Oh, that’s not a problem at all, we have plenty of bowls at my work place. And a dishwasher.
Love your list, I think EVERYONE can relate to the tag-thing, and those salad jars- fabulous idea!!
Great idea with the layered salad in a jar.
Congrats on your cookbook award!
And I’m with you on lists this year…I am keeping things basic. Because as you said crayons trump keyboards any day
OK, salad in a jar…that’s PURE GENIUS. I think this will be my lunch tomorrow. Genius, genius, genius. Today, I was in a rush so I made my very first Crack Wrap. Can’t wait to toast it up and try it at lunch!
CONGRATULATIONS on being named one of the top 5 cookbooks of the year by Grant Butler. Dude, that’s huge.
Oooh, I hope the Crack is still good hours later
Yeah, who knows. How bad could it be?
Toasting fixes everything, doesn’t it?
i love the salad shaker idea…and i’m obsessed with all things Mediterranean lately.
i think your goals for this year are perfect…Lord knows i need to work on the vacuuming thing too…
Wait until you have a baby! You’ll be surprised the things they find in the carpet. And then try to put in their mouth, of course.
Re the plastic clothes thingys..and teeth. My daughter was so bad about that very thing. I warned her. Elaborate warnings, even. But she persisted. One day, after a shopping trip, I heard her whimpering. (She was like in 6th grade) “Mom!” I walked into her room. She had her new dress dangling from her mouth. The plastic thingy got wedged between her front teeth. Ha. Ha. I grabbed scissors, cut the dress loose and pulled out the plastic thingy. It may have ended up on the carpet. I forgot that detail.
LOL! Pea D always gets on me about opening things with my teeth. And then I see my kids try to do it and I totally get it. I bet your daughter doesn’t do it anymore
This is such a cool idea! I LOVE.
I am a jar-o-holic. myplasticfreelife.com haunts my every decision. All that plastic guilt has me using mason jars for everything. They freeze well, they are perfect for the refrigerator, and taking them to work is a breeze. This recipe is totally my speed. I can’t wait to try it!
I’ve heard so much about that site/film. I must check it out. Thanks for mentioning it.
I wish I had packed that salad for my lunch today! It’s so pretty in the jar. I also wish that I would vacuum…and dust…but I will never give up biting off plastic tags, NEVER!
Let’s be honest—I will never do any of the three.
I love this! in fact do I dare say it is brillant? And you are right, check marks do not guarantee a happy life. You are very wise sister!
This is a terrific idea. Lately I have been spending way too much buying salads for lunch because I’m too lazy to make and bring them from home.
I had to read the line where you say the three people who spent nine months in my womb over and over again-I thought maybe there was a child I had skipped over or you were telling us there’s another bin in the oven! HA!
I really need to work on my writing skills. No pregnancy here!
haha I thought the same too! I went over in my head, okay Gigi, Lulu, and …? Nevertheless, the Mason jar salad is a great idea, I definitely want to try it!
This has nothing to do with your topic today but I wanted to tell you that I got your cookbook for Christmas. Super excited to make something this week!
Wonderful! I hope you enjoy it, Jamie!
What is this ‘vacuum’ you speak of?
I personally love stepping on barbie shoes, cheerios and errant beads with each step. It makes life exciting.
I was so excited to see you pin this last week, and I’ve had a mason jar salad as part of lunch every day for work since. I totally shake it up and eat it straight out of the jar though, and I have the beet-stained knuckles to prove it.
I stuff mine so full, you can’t get a fork in.
This is happening for lunch tomorrow!!! I think I fell in love with that Orange Balsamic Dressing!!!
I love using a mason jar as a lunchbox!
What a great idea! And simple enough that even I can’t mess up! It really is the simple things (including list items) that make all the difference.
Oh and I keep forgetting to mention that I like your new profile pic!
Thank you, that’s kind of you!
That’s a great idea!
PS: My boyfriend bought me your book for Christmas…BEST BOYFRIEND EVER.
He sounds like a keeper!
What a genius idea!
This is genius!!!! Salad season is upon us as the weather starts to heat up in sydney. I will definitely be toting this salad in my lunch bag. Thanks again
Enjoy!
Wow Thank you for this salad dressing recipe. I got suckered into buying $25 worth of fundraiser citrus from my coworker’s son. Now I’ve got a huge box of “clematangrapeorangefruit” on my counter and my brown skin is starting to turn orange. He’s even locked me in for another sale in mid March. Dude didn’t become the VP of Sales by accident.
What was my point? Oh yeah I can use the oranges for this recipe. Thanks. LOL
I hope you like it! (We’d take a few of those oranges off your hand if you lived closer)
Mama Pea, your girls think the world of you! You are an incredible and loving mother– one should only be so lucky! I love your posts about your family. They are always full of love and laughter. Have a wonderful New Years!
xoxo
Barbara
Wow, thanks! And all because I complained about a castle.
Much love to you!
Brilliant! Can’t wait to try this. Great way to prevent morning lunch packing laziness!
I love shakers salads! We actually made shaker pasta salads for our wedding. You can eat them out of the jar if it’s a little smaller salad and you use the wide-mouth jars!
And I got your cookbook for my sister-in-law for Christmas. She loooves it!!
Wonderful! Thank you!
LOVE this! Truly eating by color
I tried to make an orange balsamic last night and failed miserably, glad I have a recipe now! This is an awesome idea. Tossing a salad beast in an undersized tupperware gets messy.
how long does it stay good for in the jar? i might start making these for my lunches.
I heard on Pinterest that it was up to a week, but that seems kind of long to me. I’d give it a few days.
Okay I just had this for lunch and it is fan-freaking-tastic!
I can’t wait for tomorrow’s lunch now!
Yay, happy to hear it!
I made this last night and had it today. It was fantastic! And I was ridiculously excited that it was in a jar. A salad. In a jar. Seriously, it gave me so much joy for a work lunch.
I’m so glad!