Yesterday we woke up in our hotel overlooking the falls and couldn’t see 5 inches out the window it was so foggy. We went to breakfast, realized all of our options for things to do were outside, checked the weather to see if it was going to clear up at all during the day and that’s when I saw that it was supposed to be 91 and sunny at home today. It took us about 2 minutes to decide to pack up a day early and head home so we could enjoy the full day off in the sunshine. I’m probably laying on a beach towel in my front yard right now attempting to get rid of my winter Casper appearance. It really doesn’t do me any favors.
This whole 60 hour trip, 15 of which were spent in the car, made me realize a few things…
I know the lyrics to a disturbing amount (and quite varied bunch) of songs. From Snoop to Easton Corbin to Billy Joel to O.A.R. to Christina Perri, I can pretty much recite every word. I can’t hit the notes for shit, but I can tell you what they’re saying. Ulysses, however, likes to make up 90% of the lyrics. This seriously gets under my skin.
I’m quite positive hip hop peaked in 1998. Mo Money Mo Problems will forever be one of my favorite songs. “Stay humble, stay low, blow like Hootie.” You just don’t get lyrics like that anymore.
I have a weird thing where I must have the side of the bed furthest from the bathroom in hotels. It’s not like this at home, just at hotels. I also cannot stand walking on hotel tile with bare feet and will make a “trail” with bath towels to step on. The carpet doesn’t bother me though.
McDonald’s does serve one good purpose on this earth and that is vanilla soft serve cones at the 5 hour mark in the car.
Canadian border patrol officers are incredibly odd. Increeeeedibly.
I missed veggies. A LOT.
I did seriously enjoy the double mousse with caramel brittle and chocolate & hazelnut pot de crème for dessert, like seriously seriously, but I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy to see leftover veggies in the fridge as I was when I saw this salad at 9pm last night. Even after 3 days, it was still crunchy and delicious. The sesame soy sauce had plenty of time to marinate every single shred of vegetable and I ate every single one of them up in about 2 minutes flat.
Which brings me to my last realization…
I have become a 30 year old, vegetable obsessed homebody.
Omg.
- 4 baby bok choy, washed and thinly sliced
- 1 carrot, thinly sliced or peeled
- 2 stalks of celery, thinly sliced
- 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
- 2½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon agave (or honey)
- salt & pepper
- sesame seeds
- Combine all vegetables in a large bowl.
- Whisk together dressing ingredients (olive oil through salt & pepper) and pour over vegetables.
- Toss well to fully dress the salad.
- Garnish with sesame seeds.
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this salad! I also love reading about your trip! All I have to say is welcome home!! Niagara Falls as a kid used to be so much fun, as I grew up I found it to get boring. Now Niagara on The Lake is fun. Did you go there?
We did go to Niagara on the lake! So many people said we had to so we made the trip in the afternoon after going to the NY state park to see the falls. We had lunch and ice cream there on the lake. Such a cute little town
I can see how the falls would be boring as an adult if you grew up there. I’d never seen the falls even though I’ve lived in NY almost all my life so it was fun to finally do but I doubt I’d go back (unless kids miraculously appear one day) anytime soon.
I LOVE Bok Choy..this sounds delish!
Your song variety, work knowing…Im the sameee wayy haha Makes for fun roadtrips!
this looks delicious! totally bias of me but i can dig it
i hate long car rides, i can never do it. so when you said 15 hour ride..i about squirmed in my seat! at least you had fun and the pictures from IG were so pretty!
looks so good, and I always madly crave veggies after a typical road trip of larabars and apples. They just do not cut it most of the time for me.
I hear ya. Between the two of us, we ate 6 larabars in 1.5 days.
my tiny terrorist-aka the four year old, is obsessed with bok choy and sesame. I shall make this for him.
“I have become a 30 year old, vegetable obsessed homebody.” = Welcome to my world. But add a few years. It’s not so bad. Talking a lot about your pets helps keep people at a distance, too.
Which leads me to – this salad looks so great and I’m beyond stoked to hear that it stays crunchy for a few days. Hi, leftovers.
I already do the pet thing so I’ve got myself covered
I do the same thing at hotels regarding the bathroom *shudder*!
I’m dying lol. Please just be 30 something and pasty white with me? lol No tanning and lots of towel paths.
There are worse things than loving vegetables and staying at home! Although I’m probably a little biased since I’m the same way.
My hubs and I just went to New Orleans for awhile and after all that fried food, it was amazing how wonderful some fresh fruit and veggies tasted.
Oh, and–I think making a trail of towels on the bathroom floor is just being smart. How often do you think they actually clean those floors? Bleah…
Haha, so glad I’m not the only one!
Mmmm, that sauce and this salad have me craving a salad at 8am…normally it’s coffee & a cookie
I always miss eating well when I travel, too. This sounds so perfect to come home to. I love these flavors!
I’m in heart so hard right now. This is beautiful to the n’th degree!
I’m glad you enjoyed a little getaway! I missed veggies this weekend too…a lot!
This recipe looks wonderful. I’m always looking for ways to enjoy baby bok choy – love it!
It is always fun to go out of town every now and then… but the minute you make the turn to your street, there’s just no place like home. Also, as awesome as it is to eat everything that you don’t ever get to make at home, it is simply wonderful to eat something simple and homecooked. The best thing is, you know exactly what’s in it.
P.S. Singing along to music in the car is the best… in my case, I’m the one who makes up lyrics, somehow I can never understand the words to songs (I also can’t carry a tune, so it makes my singing even more interesting).
Your pictures are STUNNING today! It makes me feel like I can taste that food just by looking at it!
Glad you had a nice little getaway! I really want to do Canada in the winter one year…
Thanks Cait
Seeing pictures of Niagara Falls completely frozen in the winter, I’m going to say it gets kinda cold up there! 
Haha oh I can only imagine…I figure, just an excuse to stock up on some cute winter accessories
no worries, veggies are cool and being a homebody is even cooler.
this dish makes me wanna head dive into that bowl, thanks for the recipe!
Looks like a great salad. I’m a homebody too. And our birthdays are close! Mine is the 23rd. I hit the big 3-0 a couple years ago though. Can’t believe I just said that…
Happy early bday! I feel like I just turned 21…time is just crazy.
I’m a total homebody too. I’m ridiculously convinced that near the end of vacation the best part of it all is the chance to go home. Now if I could only become more of a vegetable loving lady too. This salad is a total step in the right direction!
This looks really, really good, Gina!
I can’t believe you survived a 60hour trip. Well, your destinations must be that great for you to travel that far. Take care! Thanks for the recipe anyway.
Sounds delicious., I absolutely love baby bok choy! It’s as adorable as it is delicious!
I know! Half the reason I buy it is b/c of the cuteness factor
haha agreed!
Wow I totally think im going to toss tomorrows lunch salad like this. THanks for this amazing recipe Im so glad I stumbled upon your blog!! xx
I just bought some bok choy with no real intention of what I was going to do with it. This is perfect.
I love bok choy but never think to make it into a salad just use it for cooking in stir frys! Must make this salad soon!
Very nice and delicious recipe. I add some cucumbers and taste amazing. Is my first time trying bok choy and … I could eat this salad every day.
I discovered bok choy like a year ago, i know it’s a sin haha, But now i am in love with it!
I loke this recipe, inspires me to make more bok choy-related dishes!
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