I have had a crazy week. Preparing for my upcoming detox, working with my individual clients, teaching my nutrition class at NOVA…it’s Friday night I am beat.  The last thing I want to do is be creative in the kitchen.  While I was thinking about what to cook for dinner I realized that it was the 20th of the month and my recipe redux post was due on the 21st!  I didn’t even know what food was being reduxed much less have a plan for it. I ran to my computer to check the website.

“Spring Shoots.” Seriously? Who has shoots lying around in their kitchen?  You might think it’s nuts, but this girl did.  I bought them earlier that week at the H Mart.

I’m not kidding.  I had Sno Pea Shoots sitting in my fridge.

Aren’t they gorgeous?  They’re also healthy.  Chock full of vitamins A, B, C and E, calcium, chlorophyll, iron, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, and protein.

Still not wanting to be creative, I remembered this awesome salad I tried at the salad bar at Whole Foods.  It was a light and airy salad consisting of edamame, some kind of sprout, avocado, and mango.  Well, I didn’t have edamame or mango but I did have avocado.  I consulted my friend zesty cook and he suggested I improvise with what I had on hand.  Which was honeydew melon and mandarin oranges.

This is what I came up with.

Sno pea shoots, avocado, honeydew melon, and orange bell pepper salad with a mandarin orange vinaigrette.  Pretty fancy pants, huh?

I think it would be perfect with some edamame, but otherwise that, it was quite tasty.  I topped it with some sliced chilled chicken breast and my husband raved.  He NEVER raves over salad.  FYI.

Here’s the recipe if you ever encounter a sno pea shoot that needs fixin.

Sno Pea Shoot & Avocado Salad with Mandarin Orange Dressing

For the salad

• 1 large handful sno pea shoots
• ¾ cup sliced honey dew melon
• 1 avocado, diced
• ½ orange bell pepper, chopped

For the dressing

• Juice from 3 mandarin oranges (about 1/8 cup)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper

Combine salad ingredients in bowl.  Whisk together dressing ingredients.  Mix gently to combine.