CITRUS AVOCADO KALE SALAD WITH TOASTED SEEDS & FENNEL PESTO DRESSING THREE WAYS.

I was in bed all day yesterday, fluctuating between fever and chills. The sudden illness came out of nowhere—I hadn’t been around anyone with the flu, and I didn’t have any other symptoms. One moment I was be rocking a solid 100.3º, and the next a meager 96.6º. To be honest, it felt like a deeply psychosomatic manifestation of what’s been going on in my mind as I navigate our current political clime: Constant fluctuations of fierce anger and chilling sorrow. Maybe my body just finally caught up with my mind.

By 9pm—and a full day of giving myself permission not to look at the news (I felt guilty, but knew I had to check out for just a few hours)—the fever was gone. I’d slept deeply and well both the night before and throughout the day. I slept again, hard, another eight hours, and woke today more determined than ever to handle my self-care more conscientiously. More like I might if I were taking care of someone else.

Which of course, for me, begins with my Vitamix.

I got my first Vitamix in 2008, the very same year my mom died. It was a birthday gift from my then-boyfriend, who I’ll always think of as one of the cornerstones of my self-care library. He worked in a physical therapy office as a massage therapist, and taught me how to care for, rather than over-work and over-stretch, my hyper-flexible spine. In many ways, I learned from him how to be a responsible owner of my body.

And that Vitamix he gave me turned out to be the greatest gift I’ve ever received. I immediately began using it numerous times a day, from blending up morning green juices to making afternoon smoothies, from dinnertime soups to dessert hot chocolates. For many years, it was the only appliance I owned: my ultimate kitchen self-care staple.

Over the next decade, I clung to my old school Vitamix. In eight years of use, I never had a single issue with it—it served me perfectly. Finally, though, the new Ascent series piqued my interest. Beyond the ease of the touch-screen (so next level!), this new blender comes with a timer, so you can easily walk away from the blender (the kitchen, even!) and let it work its magic.

This is particularly ideal for making different versions of dressings, like I did here with this bright and tangy fennel frond vinaigrette. The basic version is a perfectly lovely vinaigrette, and it can be made creamy with the simple addition of either hemp seeds or feta cheese (or both, if you’re feeling extra luxe).

With my Vitamix at the ready, I also find I’m always on the hunt for gorgeous new types of produce, whether they’ll end up in the blender or as the vehicle for a sauce. Here, I used a new green I’ve been eyeing forever, called spigarello. It’s in the same family as broccoli, and though it looks like Russian kale, it’s extremely tender and sweet. It lacks much of the bitterness that kale often carries. Any hearty green will do in this salad, though—or even lettuce, if you prefer (just omit the olive oil massage to start).

Though no external object can ever ensure I take perfect care of myself, my Vitamix has been an essential element of my self-care strategy for the past decade. Now, as stress levels on all fronts are higher than ever, it’s a beacon of pure potential energy. Starting with this multivalent salad dressing for a supercharged winter salad.

Enjoy!