It's 2014...

I have finally got the house cleaned up of most of the Christmas decorations; the last of the baking is gone (thank goodness) and the gingerbread house has been demolished. The massive poinsettia I bought at Costco that was covered in glitter has now dropped nearly every leaf and the glitter is everywhere and I still have to take down the outside lights and boughs. (it's too cold out)

And now that it is January and we are into a new year and new month it's time to do what everyone does at this time of year...eat healthier. I love making salads with a variety of toppings to make it interesting and more of a complete meal.

I was loosely inspired by the McCarthy salad that is served at one of my favourite hotels, The Beverly Hills Hotel.
It's the "hotel we almost stayed at" last spring. We went to LA for a conference and I didn't look closely enough at the itinerary we were provided with and showed up at the hotel and of course I was all excited and ewwed and ahhed about the gardens, the palms, the black and white portico ceiling and the iconic sign, all before getting out of the taxi! Long story short, we were embarrassed to find out we were at the wrong hotel! We were actually booked at the Beverly Hilton..I knew it was the Beverly something!!

I just tossed together a mixture of salad greens and then topped it with...
                                       grilled chicken
                                       diced beets
                                       2 hard boiled eggs, whites and yolks diced separately
                                       leftover bacon
                                       diced tomato
                                       1 avocado diced

My favourite dressing: In a jar with lid shake together,
                                       2 tbsp orange juice
                                       1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
                                       1 tsp honey
                                       1/3 cup light olive oil
                                       2 tbsp white vinegar
                                       salt and pepper

Did you know January is national oatmeal month? (No, either did I, the internet told me so!)

Go here for a video on how to cook oatmeal 3 different ways. (all healthy)
Go here for oatmeal topping ideas.
The perfect oatmeal recipe from O Magazine.

Go here for this decadent steel-cut oatmeal recipe.