Food:

Celery Root, Apple Cilantro Salad– serves 4

Salad:

1 medium celery root- peeled, sliced and julienned

2 medium apples- cored, sliced and julienned (I used 1 granny smith and 1 red variety I got at the farmers market)

1/2 c. fresh arugula

1 c. cilantro leaves- whole leaves torn off stem and lightly packed

1/2 c. pistachios- lightly toasted in a dry saute pan over med-low heat

1/2 c. tart dried cherries- chopped (you can find these in the bulk section of the grocery store, mine are from the farmers market)

juice of one lemon

Dressing:

1/4 c. yogurt (I used Drake Family Farms Goat Yogurt)

zest of 1 lemon, juice of half the lemon

1 T. olive oil

1 T. maple syrup

1 inch ginger- peeled and grated

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. After you have prepped the celery root and apple, place then in a bowl and squeeze the juice of one lemon over the juilenned pieces. Toss lightly with your hands.

2. Next add in the arugula and cilantro leaves, toss lightly.

3. In a small bowl combine the dressing ingredients, season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Divide the salad mixture between 4 plates, drizzle the dressing over the salad and top with the pistachios and tart dried cherries. EAT IMMEDIATELY! ENJOY!

*This salad is best eaten fresh, it will last up to one day in the fridge BUT do not top the salad ingredients with the dressing or nuts and cherries until ready to eat.

Nutrition:

Celery root: Celery root has a number of vitamins and minerals, most notably vitamin C, potassium and phosphorus. Can be used in mashed potatoes, stews and pairs well with meat.

Pistachios: Pistachios are good for heart health, diabetes, healthy blood, nervous system, eye health, the immune system and skin health. Great raw or slightly toasted.

Cilantro: Helps to eliminate the heavy metal build up of mercury and lead from the bones and the tissues in the body. Cilantro contains, folates, vitamin B-6, vitamin C, A, K and loads of iron and manganese.

Love:

One of the reasons I love living in Utah is the change of seasons and all the possibilities of food exploration that it brings with each changing month. I love warm savory dishes in the winter, but this last week I have been craving lighter fresher flavors, probably because we have been bogged down with loads of smog and snow. All of us are longing for our backyards and deck hang outs, but for now we will have to settle for Super Bowls parties and hopefully some cuddling for Valentine’s Day (I have a love filled recipe coming up next week, stay tuned!). In the meantime we can start by enjoying this refreshing, light and crunchy salad that is a vacation in your mouth. Especially after the Super Bowl junk food you might just need this salad to get you back on track. Celery root is a fun seasonal veggie and thank goodness for something fresh during this time of year, it may make you long for summer with its light bright flavor, but hopefully if you are like me it will remind you that those backyards and decks are closer than we think.