How I Turn Any Salad Into a Satisfying Meal

These are the main-course-worthy salads I’ve been adding to my rotation. This Quinoa-Bean Salad With Lots of Dill has made for hearty desk-side lunches, and this Creamy Coconutty Shrimp Salad has been the star of many a dinner party. And as a lover of all things crispy rice, I’m already planning when I can make this brilliant Laotian-Style Chicken and Rice Salad.

More Feel-Good Finds for the Month

Safety pizza bike reflector

I ride my bike, Marsha, to Brooklyn Bridge Park, Prospect Park loop, Red Hook, even upstate. And I’ve been obsessed with personalizing it: stickers on the down tube, mossy green grips, and a high visibility pizza reflector to attach to the back. The slice is my latest infatuation. It’s blazing orange, with a variety of toppings: mushrooms, pepperoni, and olives. And it commands attention on the road in just the right way—deliciously cautious.

Frother for morning lattes

I’ve had a basic frother for a while, and it’s good for half-assed lattes and emulsifying salad dressings. But recently I upgraded to the Instant Pot model, and I’m hooked. All you have to do is push a button to get aerated milk ready to top your morning brew (for me, that’s espresso). It’s no one-trick pony either, with both warm and cold foam settings, because variety is the spice of life.

My nerdy, lace-free shoes

One of my 2025 resolutions was to give up laces and only wear slip-ons. Obviously, this doesn’t work for everything (it’s hard to play kickball in clogs), but for the most part, I’m achieving my resolution. And say what you want about these dorky Merrell Jungle Mocs but they’re by far the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. The soles offer great traction and the padding feels supportive, even when I’m putting in 20,000 steps a day.

Next Time

June’s Feel-Good Food Plan will be hosted by senior recipe copy editor Liesel Davis, who’s sharing the recipe that lets her cook once and enjoy a homemade dinner all week. We’ll see you next month!