Warm asparagus salad with mushrooms
I wake up, stifle a big yawn and look beside me where my guy is lying stretched out.. snoring softly. I look at the alarm that just woke me up; 5.30 AM…. Shall I just pretend it didn’t go of and turn around and go back to sleep? Or shall I be brave and get out of bed?
I always used to be a morning person, but for some reason that has changed over the years. Not entirely but I do struggle more with getting up early then I used to do. It could have something to do with the fact that Tom is really a night person or maybe it is just me getting older. Who knows? (and who cares really) But at this particular point in time all I really want to do is crawl back into bed, but duty calls. Duty in the name of Michelle Bridges who has all her 12WBT-ers exercise every day. Well 6 days a week.
In the weeks leading up to the start of the program I had already started with exercising so it would be a little less of a shock to the system but even so… when I get out of bed I am stiff. My gluteus maximus (look it up if you don’t know where that is placed in your body! 🙂 ) is trying to prevent me from ever sitting again. My whole body is screaming loud and clearly that it has awoken in places I didn’t know had muscles… Don’t get me wrong, I do use common sense with exercising. In my younger years (god, that sounds like I am 75 doesn’t it?) I was a long distance runner and I know when too much is too much. And I also know that muscle pain is inevitable almost when going back to exercising after taking such a long time of.
And part of me loves the feeling. I love the feeling of knowing that I’ve done something for myself. That I’ve done something that will in the end, make me stronger and less prone to lower back pain (to name just one thing). The other part of me, the lazy part, is whining and complaining continuously.. ‘Let’s go to sleep instead of working out.’ ‘I can’t even laugh, as my abdominal muscles are so painful!’ ‘Don’t you think we should be taking baby steps instead of giant leaps forward? Easier on the muscles too!’ and it goes on like that. I ignore – or try to ignore – my lazy part and instead focus on the sporty part… 😉
So I do get up in the morning at ridiculous hours on busy days and am on my bike, rain or shine at 7 am, shower at 8.15 am. Out the door a little after 9 am. Of course I do have the luxury to partially being able to plan my days but usually it still means getting the exercise out of the way early in the day.
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All that exercise does make you appreciate food even more and this delicious and quick asparagus salad is really worth making. I just took a few quick snaps and then starting digging in straight away to prevent it going cold, but it is delicious! And while it is still asparagus season I would highly encourage you to make this.
Warm asparagus salad with mushrooms
Ingredients
- 20 g butter
- 2 sjalots finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic finely chopped
- 180 g mixed mushrooms chopped
- 180 g green asparagus sliced lengthwise
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
- Optional ; bread
Instructions
- Heat a frying pan on medium high and add the chopped sjalots and garlic and let it cook slowly until soft. Add the chopped mushrooms and cook for a further 3-4 minutes. Add the sliced asparagus and a splash of water. Cover with a lid and let it simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the asparagus is done.
- Season to taste
- Make the dressing by putting the olive oil and vinegar together, whisk well and add salt and pepper to taste.
- To dress up put some of the mixed leaves on a plate and sprinkle with some of the dressing, add the asparagus and the mushrooms on top and enjoyy. You can add some grilled bread to it if you like
Disclaimer
The nutritional values above are calculated per portion. The details are based on standard nutritional tables and do not constitute a professional nutritional advice.
A gorgeous salad! Refined and so flavorful.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa! It is indeed delicious!
Just reading this post has made me feel so lazy…and so hungry! The combination of the warm veggies over the crisp lettuce sounds so good.
It is! I love combining warm and cold together as that somehow makes it even better!
That’s a delightful salad. I would add a few walnuts though, I am a nut person.
Ah yes or pinenuts would work equally well too. Or hazelnuts or.. 😉
This looks great Simone! Love the simple flavours and the use of the mushies! Keep up the good work with the program!
Thanks so much Peter!
Yay! Congrats on your healthy changes, it is always a wonderful feeling:-) This salad is not only pretty, it sure does sound delicious:-) Hugs, Terra
It is a wonderful feeling indeed. Maybe not all the time but most of the time for sure!
I’ve been a gym rat for for about 15 years and have grown weary of those workout machines. Which has resulted in lack of motivation when it comes to working out for the past 8 months or so. Inactivity is first for me. I’ve just started a PIYO class, 30 minutes Pilates, 30 min. Yoga. To make a long story short, I’m feeling your pain, muscle pain that is. But also relate to feeling better about myself that I’m doing something. MUCH better about myself. With all that said, I’m loving everything about this beautiful salad. 🙂
Yes the machines in the gym can get boring really really quickly. I’m not a big fan of them so I use them as little as possible. I try to mix a lot of different classes (spinning, bodyshake, bodypump etc.) with outdoors fun such as cycling or walking and mix that even more up with dvd’s. So it keeps it interesting for longer!
I admire your determination! I went through a phase when I was exercising a lot, then I got bored and decided I’d rather be doing other things with my time. I still try to work out on a more reasonable basis, or at least move around when I can (especially now that I’m pregnant, it’s important to keep moving), but some days it’s soooo hard to be motivated.
That is a really beautiful salad, and beautifully photographed! I love asparagus season!
I have that at times too where I just can’t be bothered to exercise but in the end I always feel better when I do drag myself into the gym or on that bike, so that alone makes it worth it. But yes it can be challenging!
I love that feeling of sore muscles- for me it means the fat is burning and muscles are forming!! My gluteus maximus needs all the help it can right now! And yes, AM exercise is the best, otherwise the hwole day I have that nagging feeling that says on repeat mode: I have to exercise! I have to exercise!
It’s weird how that works isn’t it? I’ve only been exercising daily for about 3-4 weeks now and it has already become a habit almost… Where I decide how early I need to get up in the morning to do my exercise! Loving it!
Love asparagus, adore mushrooms – now why haven’t I had the good common sense to combine them in a salad? Broccolini and mushrooms would work the same way methinks? Looks lovely 🙂 !
Yes I think broccolini would work very well too although a totally different flavor but it would still be delicious! (and possibly cheaper too!)
OOh you are doing so well with this S. Keep it up … I know the feeling of pain from the gym .. but as my trainer keeps telling me this is the good pain! I am not always convinced though. What I am convinced however is that this salad looks vivid, luscious and divine. Would love to dig into it.
I think there is a fine line between good pain and bad pain.. 😉 I know that when my knees start to hurt I have to be careful as they are not the best knees in the world! But all the bigger muscles can pretty much handle a little stress… 🙂
This salad sings to me!
Good for you & your excercises! Yes ! Keep up the strenght! 🙂
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