And hail to the new chief!
I decided to go to the grocery store on my way to the gym. I rarely tie in errands with my trip, but it worked out perfectly. Especially since it was 30* and I could leave the food in my trunk. I got two bags full of fresh produce – how exciting!
I skipped my plans for some Stepmill and weight lifting in exchange for an hour of ellipticaling with a TV screen so I could watch the festivities. I raced home and finished watching after a speedy shower.
I thought President Obama’s speech was fantastic – brilliantly delivered and without fluff. In all my life, I have never been more proud to be an American than hearing his words today in all the pomp and circumstance. I’ve also enjoyed all the political trivia on the TV stations. My favorite quotes:
- “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
- “They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
- “For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.
- “To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West–know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
- “Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends–hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism–these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history
- “We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”
Red, White and Blueberries Salad
Of course I had to celebrate through food.
I made a giant salad with layers of: romaine, carrot, bell pepper, pickle, broccoli, beet, avocado, roasted garbanzo beans, strawberries, blueberries and cottage cheese.
On the side I had a piece of Cranberry Orange Toast with some PB&J, which I think is the perfect salad accompaniment.
Our sun is out and the snow is almost 100% gone!!! Just like a normal day. Crazy. I’m looking forward to spending some time with the husband when he gets home this afternoon. In the meantime, it’s time for Biochem reading.
caitlin says
hail to obama! 🙂
kath, this is caitlin from See Bride Run. i wanted to tell you that i’ve switching to a new blog called Healthy Tipping Point (www.healthytippingpoint.com). I hope you continue reading!
Maggie says
I heard it on the radio and I got chills 🙂 It was really good. Love the patriotic lunch!
Katelyn says
Love the patriotic salad! We also watched and enjoyed the inauguration…no red white and blue food for us, though.
Biz says
How patriotic of you to make a salad like that!
They attorneys in my office left to watch them at another attorneys house close to the office. “Staff was to remain at the office.” Then a few people started watching it on CNN, but then an email went out to not watch “streaming” video as it slows down the system.
I’ll just have to watch it on YouTube tonight!
hk says
Snow gone already!! Jeese, I’m jealous- not the case here in boston 🙁 lovely lunch!!
Shelby says
Cute salad, perfect for this wonderful day!
petunia says
What a pretty salad! Did you dress it with anything, or was the cheese & avocado enough to do without?
Rachel says
Love your Obama quotes (thanks!) and your delish, patriotic salad. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’re gonna do with your plentiful produce!
Mel says
I love the patriotic salad. I’m so glad that today went well, the next four (hopefully 8) will be so much better than the last 8!
brandi says
That’s how the snow is at our house, usually 🙂 Here one minute, gone the next!
I love that everyone is having patriotic food today!
theoddbod says
great speech eh. he definitely doesn’t look like he’s reading off of a piece of paper. congrats from up north!
zestycook says
Great American Salad Kath!! It truly was a great speech. Congrats from Zesty in the North.
megan says
Beautiful speech, beautiful salad, and beautiful weather! I think it will be a beautiful day 🙂
Faye says
“To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West–know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”
Loved, loved, loved this quote! I thought the speech was very eloquent, just like our new leader.
If I weren’t at work, I would have been ellipticalling in front of the t.v. as well!
fig says
fyi:
Few more pb products have been recalled that surprised me- check your stash
1. Larabar Peanut Butter Cookie flavor
2. JamFrakas Peanut Butter Blisscrisp
3. Zone Perfect Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars, 4. Zone Perfect Peanut Toffee Bars
5. NutriPals Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Laura says
Any Clif bars with peanut butter have also been recalled, since of course I bought 10 of them yesterday! Figures!
Thanks to our old prez, and best luck to our next!
Missy (Missy Maintains) says
Beautiful salad! I got to watch his speech on the elliptical too! Very motivating!
www.missymaintains.blogspot.com
Moran says
As always, your salads look so good! And what an adorable star-shaped plate!!
Red Head, Yellow Dog says
love the quotes.
The snow here is still piled high! Crazy! seems like the storm just came right through Raleigh.
SarahH says
Need a recipe idea!
I bought a feta and spinach chicken sausage today. I want to slice it up and put it on whole wheat pasta. I need sauce ideas though!
Any ideas? I tried to google but had no luck on good stuff.
Jessica says
Great recap with the Obama quotes. We’re super excited and hopeful too!
Melissa says
AMEN! I had done an Obama post today too — how can we not be moved by him!? 🙂 Sooo happy!
K says
He did give a great speech 😀
Love your patriotic salad!
Katie says
PB&J toast is a perfect accompaniment for any dish in my opinion. 🙂 Love your patriotic salad!
I was able to listen to the speech on the radio since we don’t have TV in our office. I’ve been searching for the perfect word to describe Obama’s speech and you’ve come the closest to summing up the way I feel: “brilliantly delivered and without fluff.” Exactly!
Sarah (lovINmytummy) says
Obama’s speech (and your lunch!) make me proud to be an American today!
Enjoy your time with the hubs tonight…that is so important!
Leah says
That salad looks amazing!! I love adding fruit to salads! Tonight I added sliced grapes to mine 🙂
Just a Q for you or any other readers for suggestions:
I’m a big fan of Nescafe Hazelnut coffee but unfortunately cannot buy it here in the UK!! Anyone have any suggestions how I can liven up regular coffee with a bit of a nutty flavour?? I don’t want to go overboard and make the coffee deadly in calories but i’d love a bit of flavour!!
Diana says
i can’t beleive the snow is almost gone already – we’ll be covered in it until march! the toast looks great! i love the festive table setting!
Melissa (fitnessnyc) says
gorgeous salad and great star plate. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm with us! G B America!
allijag says
Wasn’t his speech seriously inspiring? He is such a captivating speaker!
Love the colorful salad! 🙂
Monique says
Hey Kath,
I cam across this alarming article on a PB recall. Knowing that you comsume some of these products I thought I would give you a heads up. Sorry if you are receiving this more than once.
http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100231574>1=31036
Nicki says
I’m new to your blog (LOVE it!!). I was wondering what exactly Barney peanut butter is? And where do you get it?
I’m in Iowa and we currently have about 16″ of snow on the ground. It’s supposed to actually get above freezing tomorrow and Thursday! Yippee!!
seelee live (for the love of peanut butter) says
Kath-such a great lunch idea!!! so pretty, patriotic and delicious looking. i listened the speech as well and those are great highlights you picked out!
Rahel says
You are seriously too cute… the salad made me smile after I shed some tears for our new president. I think he was realizing, standing up there, all that is ahead of him– and us. Like all the different ingredients of your salad, some sweet, some crunchy and some savory, I believe he really wants us all to come together…
Okay, I don’t think where that came from, but then again it IS an emotional day!
Amanda says
SarahH, I have made a similar pasta dish to one you are describing except with shrimp instead of the chicken sausage. I made it kindof greek-ish (feta inspired me!) and basically used a can of diced tomatoes, some garlic, onion, kalamata olives (or capers), etc .. just get creative 🙂
Danielle says
What a patriotic festive lunch! Very creative.
I can’t believe your snow is gone already, ours usually sticks around for about a day. Lucky you got the day off from school and you were still able to go out and enjoy the day!
emmy says
would you mind sharing where you found a transcript of Obama’s speech? I really want to have my students read it in class.
Karissa says
I know wasn’t today amazing!
I’m a college student and I watched the inauguration from the student center surrounded by tons of people, but it was so quite as everyone took it in.
It makes me proud and hopeful again to be an American!
Kate says
Kath, did you make that bread or did you buy it? Looks amazing!
sarah says
obama is such a phenomenal speaker!!
Kath says
petunia ,
I did dress it in some vinegar and honey.
Nicki ,
Check out the Barney Butter website, which I linked to in my ingredients list.
emmy ,
I found it at Forbes, but you can Google it and I’m sure find it lots of places.
Kate ,
The bread is Great Harvest’s.
Kath
Nicole says
Ha, loving the patriotic salad!