Yayyyyyyy! Guess what? I leave for Portland tomorrow! I’ve been to Portland twice now. Once for a trip with my best friend Laura and the second time for book tour. And I want to go back now! So I’m grabbing my bestie again and we are heading back out for a little girls trip! Last time we stayed in the city, but this time we are meeting up with our friend Kyra from Kyra’s Bake Shop in Lake Oswego to stay with her and explore all over the place. Obviously, we plan on eating our faces off. Whenever Portland is on the agenda, food is at the top of the to do list.
But we have way more planned than we did last time around. This time we are hiking a few times, wandering around a few towns, shopping, taking a body attack class, going out for some country bar dancing, and then going to a friend’s gigantic food event! It’s going to be so awesome! I’m going to eat so many cinnamon rolls at Kyra’s Bake Shop! Like, so many.
I’m just so pumped to get away and spend quality time with the bestest. AND THEN, a few days after I get back from Portland, I go straight to Palm Springs with my sister in law for more girl time. We are going to pool so hard, cocktail so hard, eat so hard, and then maybe bike around. Gotta get our exercise in somehow! If you have any favorite places to eat or visit in Portland or Palm Springs, please leave your recommendations below! Visiting places that readers recommend is my favorite!
Guess what, guys? We are getting close to the end of our CSA/Farmer’s Market inspired Wednesdays. We said we would do it through July and August so only two more recipes after these ones! I’m so glad Lexi invited me to do this because it’s really pushed me to try more ingredients and see what I can do to really enjoy them. I rarely ever eat salads, raw kale or beets. Because I think all taste like sh*t. But I proved myself wrong by making a salad that is absolutely delicious and beets that taste SO good. I could barely stop myself from eating them directly off the baking sheet! You seriously have to try this salad!
And Lexi and Cassy did not disappoint either! Lexi has made this Italian-style Eggplant Lasagna Rollatini, which is a delicious way to use up all of those eggplants and all of that fresh basil you have growing! And Cassy used her artistic skills to create this Asian-inspired chilled crab and cucumber bowl! The tangy dressing is delicious and the generous sprinkle of Furikake on top makes the dish! Enjoy a higher carbohydrate version with white rice or just opt for a bed entirely of shaved cucumbers. No matter what recipe you try from ours this week, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with my how many veggies you’re eating without even knowing it! Check out their recipes below!
Kale, Candied Bacon & Roasted Beet Salad
- Yield: 3-4 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound bacon
- 3 tablespoons maple or coconut sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 9 beets (3 red, 3 golden, 3 chioggia), peeled and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons ghee, melted
- 1 tablespoon garlic salt (I used Hepp’s Roasted Garlic Salt)
- 1 bundle kale, ribs removed and leaves thinly sliced (the thinner sliced, the better)
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 2–4 ounces herb goat cheese (optional)
For the dressing
- juice of 1 1/2 lemons
- zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- pinch of salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a cooling rack on top and spray or grease with coconut oil. Place maple/coconut sugar and cinnamon in a dish and mix. Place strips of bacon in the sugar and completely coat then place on the cooling rack. Put in oven to bake for 20-25 minutes, until crispy. Keep an eye on it since oven temperatures can range. Once crispy, remove from oven and set aside.
- Turn oven temperature up to 400 degrees and line another baking sheet with foil. Brush each beet slice on both sides with melted ghee, place on baking sheet then sprinkle with garlic salt. Place in oven to bake for 15 minutes, flip to other side then bake for 15 more minutes.
- When the beets are almost done cooking, place thinly sliced kale in a large bowl. Place all ingredients for the dress in a jar and shake until completely combine. Pour dressing over kale and massage with your hands to completely coat the kale and help break it down.
- Chop bacon and top the salad with beets, bacon, almonds, and goat cheese!
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More Salads For Your Liking:
Fall Harvest Chopped Salad with Apple Maple Vinaigrette
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Ahh! Have so much fun in Portland and Palm Springs! We got married in PSP in 2014 and it was amazing! Where are you guys staying? We got married at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club which I highly recommend and then spent our mini-moon at the Parker which is unbelievable. The best coffee place is Koffi (there are a bunch in town, and one right across from the ACE!), and the best restaurants that we frequented were Cheeky’s for breakfast/brunch and Birba for pizzas on a beautiful patio. The restaurants at the hotels are great too. I’d recommend brunch/lunch at the Parker at Norma’s (make a reservation, probably, and definitely try the creme brûlée waffle!) The restaurant at the ACE, King’s Highway, has amazing food and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I think you can also get day pool passes to the ACE which is totally worth it if you want to try a different scene/pool! Drink all of the Desert Facials and Pimm’s Cups!! Have so much fun!! xx
The Parker is AWESOME. Their spa is incredible. And dinner at Mr Parker’s is still two of the best meals of my life (so good we went two nights in a row and STILL talk about it 8 years later, like our night at Departure). It’s been awhile, but I don’t imagine it changed.
Are these all paleo restaurants? Heading to Portland myself in early October
The restaurants named are in Palm Springs. Google Paleo in Portland and there are lots of options! Enjoy your visit!
Yay! The sneak peeks were making me really excited for the recipe. Looks delicious- especially the beets!
We went to Portland last month. Aside from some awesome sushi, the best meal I had was at Dick’s Kitchen. And Kyra’s is the best–I wrecked my blood sugar on a cupcake and a donut. Worth it.
If you’re hiking around Portland, check out Tunnel Falls. It’s about a 13 mile hike total but so, so beautiful!
This looks AMAZING! Long time reader-first time commenting! 🙂 I just decided last week to make myself a guinea pig and try the Whole30. I am a nutrition coach and trainer and while I have read about Whole30 and Paleo, I never tried the diets because I have always been in marathon training mode and eat #allthecarbs.
Recovering from hip surgery I figured now is the time to experiment before I begin racing next spring.
This salad (minus the cheese obviously) is a great way for me to add some variety to the meal plan.
Thanks for the inspiration!
I just got back from a week in Portland in July and managed to stay pretty clean! I didn’t make it to Kyra’s since it wasn’t in the city, but a few awesome places downtown if you make it are blossoming lotus (awesome vegan spot with great cocktails), salt and straw (the go to touristy ice cream spot), and chicken and guns (amazingly fresh food cart). Also- you have to visit the Columbia River Gorge for hiking and hit the Thunder Island Brewing Company afterward for good food, great gf (and strong) ciders, and insane views of the River. Have fun!
Hope you guys have some fun indoor activities planned to help escape the heat, can’t believe how hot it’s gonna be here!
Can’t wait to try this salad. I am not a beet fan, so am always interested in new ways to try them!
Will you please talk Kyra into shipping the cinnamon rolls again? Or please bring some back to CO!!
haha i’ll try my best!!
You may not be a huge salad fan, but damn you can make a beautiful one! I’ve never tried beets, I’m embarrassed to say, but I will be trying this, thanks!
I live just south of Portland and my boyfriend lives south of Palm Springs! Only two of, like, the best places ever. Just eat all the foods–I don’t know if it’s really possible to eat bad food up here. I fell in love with Kyra’s cupcakes a few years ago; SO GOOD. Have lots and lots of fun!! There is some gorgeous hiking down in the desert. Thursday night market is a ton of fun to go to in Palm Springs. Great people watching, which is basically my fave. I’m excited for you!