Today I spent approximately eight hours in the gym. Thankfully for everyone, I wasn’t actually working out for the full eight hours, but was getting certified to teach TurboKick, a cardio kickboxing format that my gym, along with several others in Chicago, offers. I’d never thought about teaching group fitness before, but I love this class so much (I go at noon on Sundays, that’s how much) that when Susanna announced on Facebook that she was hosting an instructor training workshop in October, I immediately decided to sign up.
Then I realized that the training fell on the same weekend as FoodBlogForum in Nashville, where I’d been invited to speak on a public relations panel. So I didn’t sign up. Then, I lost a major client, picked up some new projects and…well, it seemed like the worst possible time to spend almost a thousand dollars on a trip that was, at the end of the day, primarily for pleasure. So I very begrudgingly had to cancel my trip to Nashville and soon after I did, realized that there was a silver lining because now I could become TurboKick certified.
We’re going to talk about how this relates to butternut squash salad in just a few minutes.
Since August, my life has been total chaos and I managed to slip off the healthy-eating-working-out-regularly band wagon that I’d been on for the majority of the spring and summer. Even though I was eating more chips and guacamole than I want to admit and eating ice cream with a certain regularity, kickboxing was the one class, the one workout that could compel me to the gym. It’s fast-paced, high energy and I almost always feel better after I’ve done it (unless, you know…I take three weeks off. Then that first day back is Not. Fun).
Really though, think about it. Have you ever left the gym and thought, “I wish I hadn’t done that?” No. You feel glad that you accomplished something that is healthy for you and maybe even let some feel-good endorphins flow. Now take that feeling and multiply it by thirty and that’s approximately how I felt after leaving instructor training today.
I have no idea if I’ll actually teach. I would like to, that is, if I ever learn how to count in beats of 32 and cue without mixing up my left from my right. But even if I never teach one class, I left today’s workshop feeling good about myself and motivated to be better, to be better to my body and to be better to myself.
Sometimes, that means eating salads.
Not lame-o salads, of course. Hearty fall-inspired salads, like this salad I made for a cooking demonstration at the Junior League of Chicago last week (more about that later). Packed with plump dried cranberries, roasted butternut squash and peppery arugula, this salad is a great one to make to eat as a dinner side dish and pack leftovers for your lunch the next day.
Or not. No one will know if you don’t have leftovers. It is, of course, a salad, right?
Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Prep Time: 15 minutes/Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serves 4
What You Need:
For the salad:
1 (1 1/2-pound) butternut squash, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon high-quality olive oil
1 tablespoon high-quality, pure maple syrup
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons dried cranberries
4 ounces baby arugula
½ cup walnuts halves, toasted
¾ cup feta cheese
For the dressing:
¾ cup apple cider
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup olive or vegetable oil
How-To:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the butternut squash on a sheet pan. Add one tablespoon olive oil, maple syrup, one teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and toss (use your hands for best results). Roast the squash for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until tender.
While the squash is roasting, make the dressing: combine apple cider, vinegar, and mustard in a small bowl. Slowly pour 1/2 cup olive oil, whisking continuously as dressing thickens. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Place the arugula in a large salad bowl and add the roasted squash mixture, the walnuts and feta. Spoon just enough vinaigrette over the salad to moisten and toss well (if you like light dressing, you may have some left over). Sprinkle with salt and pepper and serve immediately.
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All of my favourite things in a salad! And if it’s worth anything, you should teach the class! You’ll meet new people and it will be good for you, to take some time off and give it back to yourself! Good luck!
I love that this salad is packed with quintessential fall flavors as well as healthy food. I try to have salads for lunch each day- this one would be a great choice!
Very nice. I love the color of butternut squash on the green salad and the apple cider vinaigrette sounds so good on this particular salad. I think you will be a great teacher. I would go to your class if I’m in your area! Sounds fun….although I’m totally out of shape. haha.
This is the perfect fall salad! I love the addition of apple cider vinegar to the dressing – so right for this time of year! Now I know what my lunch should be….
I love the colors going on in this salad. Sorry you couldn’t make it to fbf. But glad there was a silver lining.
wow, that’s great you took that class! delicious salad!
This looks so good! Wishing I had thought of something similar when I had both butternut squash and arugula in my fridge the other day. But there will be more butternut squash and I’m definitely making this next time!
Perfect autumn salad…what a great combination of flavors. Sorry you missed the food blog forum
PS…kick boxing sounds like so much fun. Power yoga is my go-to exercise, but I should branch out~
This is a seasonal salad that is so worth the time and effort!!!
This sounds delicious – the colors say AUTUMN! I’m just getting back into the butternut squash season, so I will put this salad on my list.
Oh la la! I love the idea of the apple cider dressing. I love using apple cider in any and everything I can when it gets to be this time of year but actually i have never tried it as a dressing before. It sounds amazing and so does the squash. I am a huge fan of roasting my veggies because I think it brings out the best flavor in them!
Oh, TurboKick sounds like a blast! Good for you
And this salad reminds me of my absolute favorite fall salad of all time…I usually start making it right around now, so thank you for the reminder. Now, if only I could find a TurboKick class around here….
I used to teach Turbo! It is a lot of fun
Glad you got to go and take the training- whoop whoop! Now, this salad…amaze. Some of my favorite flavors. I must make it!
What a lovely salad… colorful, healthy and delicious! That is what I call good food! Turbokick sounds interesting… good for you!
Beautiful way to use butternut squash, which is abundant right now at the farmers market.
Congrats on getting certified. Sounds like everything is working out, ups and downs wise. This is such the perfect salad for fall. I think my wife would love it to take for lunch.
I like apple cider vinegar in dressing. Congrats on picking up new client(s)
This salad sounds amazingly delicious!!
congrats on your turbokick certification!
I made a grilled pumpkin salad the other day for lunch! Can’t wait to try your version!
This looks SO good! Printing, stumbling, pinning…what else can I do? EATING for sure! Yum!
Cinnamon in the dressing makes me really want to try this. I love butternut squash in my salads, always feels less salady.
That looks yummy. I was actually making something similar with pumpkin this week but ack the pumpkin got over roasted, I overcooked the quinoa, and then I burnt the bacon I was intending to put in it. Such an off night. But now you’ve convinced me I should definitely give it another go because apple vinaigrettes + squash and cheese = amazing.
This is certainly no lame-o salad! I might eat this every day if you let me.
You did the right thing by learning to teach for favorite fitness class. Only good can come of that!
the salad looks delicious. we missed you in nashville this past weekend but hopefully we’ll see you at the next food blog forum. it was an absolutely awesome time!
Hi Maris. Congratulations on your certification!!!! Great looking salad too! Hope the chaos of your life settles down soon. I know good things are ahead for you!!!! Happy Monday.
Very good point made about never thinking you wish you hadn’t done that after a worout. Doing the workshop sounds like a wonderful experience, regardless of if you ever persue teaching. And I love this salad. Immensely.
And just as I was thinking to skip the gym today…
I will get myself there now, because your right: I never regret going, and I always feel better after a work out.
This salad looks lovely, and I doubt there would be any left overs… but I imagine it would be tasty the next day.
I’ve never put squash on a salad… I love roasting butternut squash though!!
Turbokick sounds FUN!!!! I need to work out for about 8 hours straight. Love this salad!
Everything works out for the best, I really do believe that. Congrats on getting certified! My friend is certified in turbokick as well and absolutely loves it. The apple cider vinaigrette sounds delicious. xx
roasted butternut squash in salad is my kind of food. love this!
I adore this salad Maris and am SOOOOOO impressed you are now certified at teaching Turbokicks. That’s amazing! Have a great week!
Definitely NOT a lame-o salad! This looks fabulous Maris! Your cardio kickboxing instructor workshop sounds fun too. Not that I’ve ever tried kickboxing in my life, mind you
What a wonderful salad! I love any reason to eat Butternut Squash and this looks fantastic. Apple Cider Vinaigrette must be the perfect compliment to it. Congratulations on getting certified! I know that feels good!
Yum! And I am with you on the kickboxing thing! Every Friday morning I take a class with some of my favorite girlfriends, and it is the best workout (and sometimes the only workout) of my week!
This is inspiring and beutiful! I love the photos. I am sure that things are going to work out for you! Think positive!
Nice going on getting certified. That must have been lots of fun.
I love this salad. I have a kabocha ?? squash and it tarste very similar to bn so will use that…thanks so much!
I absolutely LOVE turbokick. I don’t currently belong to a gym but will prob join once it gets a bit colder…and then I intend to start going to turbokick again. Too bad you can’t be my instructor
Also, love bnut squash on salads…I made a few last year and this looks like one I need to try this fall!
Ah, yum! I’m so excited it’s butternut squash season–and this looks delightful.
Congrats on your certification, too! That sounds like an awesome, endorphin-pumping outlet.
Now this is my kind of salad! Love the fall flavors you incorporated into this, Maris. Very yummy and creative. Thank you for sharing! I’m pocketing this to try soon.
this looks perfectly Fall! I absolutely love it! Bookmarking to possibly make for Thanksgiving…
That’s awesome, Maris! Congratulations on your certification. I adore squash and this salad looks perfectly inviting.
As I always am, I am so proud of you and all your accomplishments.
When I was in college I showed up once for a kickboxing class during the week of free rec classes offered at the start of the semester. Luckily I went with a friend so I didn’t look like a complete moron (just 1/2 a moron); but somehow, everybody knew all the frickin’ moves already! What’s up Minneapolis, it was the first week – what’s up!!
I have not heard of TurboKick before (you can tell I am not a gym girl)
. It sounds like a lot of fun and a great workout. Your salad looks like the perfect fall salad that is colorful and hearty with the butternut squash. I have been eating a lot of butternut squash lately. Just can’t seem to get enough, so I will be definitely trying your recipe.
i always look forward to fall so i can overdo it on the butternut squash. okay lets be real, you cant overdo it on butternut squash. surprisingly, i hadn’t thought of it in a salad. looks tasty! perhaps this will be on my menu for next week. last week it was soup.
Good for you, Maris – and I can totally related to the inability to count beats and know your left from right. It’s why i usually do not go to classes. Really. Not because I’m lazy. Anyways, the salad looks fabulous – and I love how fall inspired it is.
This looks like a great way to use squash. I’m always clueless about autumn salads, but this sounds like a really good way to get my veggies.
I love group exercise classes. They are my best motivation to actually get to the gym and helped me meet so many new friends when I first moved to Phoenix. I’m not sure I have the coordination to be an instructor, but I’m super impressed that you’re certified! Also, I’ve been feeling like I’ve been slacking a little lately too. This salad would be an awesome way to kick start a jump back into my old routine. Thank you
Yum! What a fiber-licious meal option! I can’t wait to give this a try.
It’s that time of year again…squash! Love the idea of putting it on salad. Congrats on making steps towards a new adventure in teaching kickboxing! That would be soo much fun, think of all the lives you could help change and friends you could make
Maris, nice salad, love the idea of roasted butternut squash…and the apple cider…very Fall
Hope you are having a great week!
That looks so good and healthy!
Love this – looks delicious! Good luck with the teaching!
Congrats on the certification – it sounds like an exciting class to take. I love pumpkin in salads. It add a touch of delicious sweetness.
I’ve always wanted to take Turbo Kick! l love kickboxing!
Looks delish, lady! So many great fall flavors in this
I love BN squash, though buttercup is my absolute fave. This salad looks fabulous!
Looks like a fabulous fall salad-yum!
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