New Ambrosia with Buttermilk-Coconut Dressing

 I’m running short on time and sleep this morning so I will keep this brief. Yesterday was quite the whirlwind of events, to say the least.

It started with a rainy morning which are my very least favorite kind (as in, I hate rain so much that when it rained in college…I skipped class). As I was walking into work, trying desperately to not allow mother nature the satisfaction of ruining my 30-minute flat iron work, my umbrella was turning inside out with the winds while rain pelted my face. That is my version of a horror movie.

I’m so not kidding.

Work was insane, in all of the good ways. Busy days make for quick days and I saw a patient take her health by the horns in a complete 180 since she was hospitalized recently. Those types of success stories are what RD’s live for, let me tell you.

Our last cooking class was a huge success and wouldn’t you know all the families showed. Insanity! I left work around 8:30pm only to be greeted by a blizzard. Does Michigan not know to ease me into this Northern-ness nonsense?! BLIZZARD. I kid you not, I drove home in a white out blizzard (though ironically, very little of the snow actually stuck) and not-to-confidently exited the highway for an off ramp out of fear of a semi plowing over me. My typical 32 minutes drive was a solid 45.

I had about 2.2 seconds (that is hardly an exaggeration) to pet the dog, kiss the hubby, and shovel in a homemade granola bar before packing up my hockey gear and heading back out into the blizzard for my game. Monday night — it’s the really, really good team. And let me tell you, the LAST thing I wanted to do after a 13 hour Monday was exercise…even hockey. But, off I went. Running late, naturally.

I showed up to hockey just as the Zamboni was getting on the ice and I changed into my gear in record speed. I am much more efficient at such tasks when I don’t have a locker room of women to chat with (I fly as the solo female on this team).

We were getting our tushes handed to us (should I tell the guys that if they just PLAYED THEIR POSITION perhaps we wouldn’t lose 12 to 2?). But, I’m so over that BECAUSE….I SCORED A GOAL!!! WOOOO! Who’da thunk it? Not me, that’s for sure. But I’m kidding, losing still stinks.

I got home and I found myself with 2 choices — leftovers of this salad or one of 188 buckeyes that remain from our weekend peanut butter ball showdown (we made 190). Since the smell of peanut butter is still a bit nauseating, I went with this salad, very happily I might add. For me to be choosing a salad at 11pm at night, you know it’s a good one. Not only good, but truly one-of-a-kind!

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New Ambrosia with Buttermilk-Coconut Dressing from Cooking Light

2 grapefruit, peeled and sectioned
2 navel oranges, peeled and sectioned
3 celery ribs, chopped (about 3/4 cup)
2 avocados, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
1/2 cup fresh basil,chopped
1 (5 oz) package arugula

Buttermilk-Coconut Dressing 
1 garlic clove
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 Tbsp sweetened flaked coconut
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice (about 1/2 lime)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

Directions:

To make the dressing, peel the garlic clove and smash garlic and salt together using flat side of a knife on a flast surface to make a paste. Whisk together garlic mixture, buttermilk, and remaining ingredients until blended. Cover and chill dressing until ready to use.

Combine grapefruit, orange, celery, avocado, cucumber, jalapeno and basil in a large bowl. Pour dressing over mixture, and toss to coat. Cover and chill for at least 15 minutes.

Arrange arugula on 6 salad plates. Toss grapefruit mixture and spoon mixture over arugula.

Yield: 6 servings

Nutrition Information (per serving): 220 calories; 13 g. fat; 2 mg. cholesterol; 278 mg. sodium; 26.2 g. carbohydrate; 7.8 g. fiber; 4.3 g. protein

Result: By far the most unique salad I’ve ever tried — this is full of flavors. The buttermilk is a unique dressing in and of itself…add to it some coconut and lime juice and your taste buds are in for a real treat. If you love buttermilk, coconut, and grapefruit, I’d venture to guess you’ll love this as much as I did. If you don’t care for those foods, probably take a pass on this one. Mr. Prevention can’t comment, but I will speak for myself in saying that I love these ingredients and together, they definitely work!

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A normal Tuesday…bring it.

Be well,