In My Lunchbox This Week: Post-Super Bowl Sunday Brussels Sprout & Apple Detox Salad

I don't know about you, but I am moving a little slowly today... it even took me longer than normal to write this post!

We attended a Super Bowl party hosted by our friends Tara and Nick yesterday and, as always, they pulled out all the stops with the game day food.  [Thanks for inviting us!]  I can't believe the spread that they put out year after year!  I indulged in a lot of mac and cheese, Nick's famous pulled pork, guacamole, and a few beverages and it was all delicious, but I think I am still in a food coma! 

Since I have a busy few weeks coming up at work I definitely can't afford to be sluggish right now.  When we got home from the party last night I prepared a big batch of salad to take to work for lunch over the next few days.  The salad includes some delicious and detoxifying ingredients like brussels sprouts, apples, and onions in addition to some other good for your health/digestion ingredients like walnuts, olive oil, and vinegar in addition to a little bit of cheese (you have to have just a little...).  This salad is similar to the very popular Scoozi-inspired brussels sprout salad recipe that I posted about a year ago.  It is tangy, flavorful, and filling.  I'll be eating mine along with a slice of whole grain bread for a well rounded lunch.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups Brussels sprouts, trimmed and shredded
• 1 cup Romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 Honeycrisp apple, cut into 1/2 inch dice
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and rough chopped 
• 1 oz. Parmesan cheese, thinly shaved
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 Tbs. honey
• 2 Tbs. white wine vinegar
• 4 tsp. Dijon mustard
• 1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 tsp/ dry parsley
• salt and pepper, to taste

Combine Brussels sprouts, Romaine, apples, and onion and divide into individual salad bowls.

In a small bowl or cruet combine olive oil and next 5 ingredients. Whisk or shake to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste. Dress the salads with desired amount of dressing and toss to combine.

Add shaved cheese and walnuts to the top of each salad and serve.

My best advice on this salad is to dress it, toss, and then walk away for 15-20 minutes.  It's so much better at room temperature after the dressing has soaked in a bit.

Makes approximately 4 servings.