I was looking forward to it all week, almost as eagerly as I’d been eating this perfect summer salad: Wednesday night would mark the airing of James Cordon’s Carpool Karaoke with First Lady Michelle Obama. There were other epic Karaokes before this one (James’ vocal odyssey with Sia is a fave), and I’m sure there will be many to come, but to ride—to sing—with FLOTUS at this moment in time felt important. Important in the wake of the RNC speech scandal (I can’t even bring myself to write her name here), important in the wake of this summer of shootings and tragedy and #BlackLivesMatter, important because this FLOTUS is the best FLOTUS I’ve had in my lifetime.
Late Wednesday night, I gathered myself in front of my laptop and opened my Facebook feed. Just a few scrolls down, people were already sharing the Youtube video of James and Michelle. I felt an upsurge of excitement as I clicked through and went full screen. I braced myself. I laughed at James’ awkward White House entrance. I inhaled all of Michelle’s grace as she entered his car. And then, much to my surprise, I started crying.
They were smiling, they were happy, they were singing to Stevie Wonder. But my side of the screen, the tears streamed down my face, insistent and just as loud. I was heartbroken that this woman—this beacon of intelligence, of style, of cool, of health, of activism, of leadership—would be leaving us. The thought of the Obamas exiting the White House has brought me to tears before, but it’s never felt quite so perilous.
Because now, the stakes of who we might lose are mightily overshadowed by the insanity of who could take their place. It’s almost too much to hold in my mind. And so, where I should have felt pure joy, I cried.
But the tears didn’t last long. Michelle and James had Yoncé moves to bust, and Missy Elliot to pick up. I could’ve watched the three of them drive in circles around the White House courtyard for hours. In a rush of brilliance, FLOTUS rapped the entirety of Missy’s classic “Get Your Freak On”. As James commented to Missy, “Can we just talk about the rhymes that are in the First Lady’s locker?!”
You can’t make this ish up. And I’m certainly not ready to let it go.
Yet I’m no good to anyone crying forlornly in front of my computer screen. That’s not what FLOTUS and Missy and their Let Girls Learn girl squad would want. I know my action means far more than my tears. In many ways, I think the greatest capacity of any political leader is to inspire their citizens to do better, to be better. The Obamas have, without question, done so for me.
So while I sweat my way through the latest LA heat wave, slack-jawed at the political circus that is the RNC, I’m going to do my best to keep a little bit of FLOTUS Carpool Karaoke joy in my heart. This summery riff on a panzanella salad helps.
Don’t worry if you can’t find little gem lettuce (your local farmers market is the best bet)—romaine is a fine substitute. But little gems’ buttery, crisp strength stands up perfectly to the softness of avocado and nectarine, the pungent taste and aroma of mint and dill, and the clean crunch of cucumber and radish. Feta and chunky bread bring the whole bowl together in equal measures tangy and substantial. Our dressing is pure simplicity: Olive oil, red wine vinegar, flaky sea salt, fresh ground pepper.
This salad comes together in just moments, but delivers big. If James, Michelle, and Missy had been hungry for lunch, I would’ve airdropped a giant bowl straight into their laps.
Eat up. Build joy.
HERBY NECTARINE, AVOCADO & FETA LITTLE GEM SALAD.
Ingredients
- 4 cups little gem lettuce leaves trimmed, about two small-medium heads
- ½ cup thinly sliced nectarine or stone fruit of choice
- ½ cup thinly sliced cucumbers
- ½ cup thinly sliced radishes
- ½ cup loosely packed mint leaves
- 1/3 cup dill leaves
- 1/3 cup feta cheese
- 2 cups lightly toasted or day-old large bread chunks
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- flaky sea salt to taste
- freshly cracked pepper to taste
- 1 small avocado sliced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine little gem lettuce, nectarine, cucumbers, radishes, mint, dill, and feta cheese. Toss to combine, then add bread chunks, and toss again.
- In a small bowl, mix olive oil and red wine vinegar with a whisk or fork. Pour over salad, and toss. Add flaky sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Finish with avocado slices. Let sit a few minutes to allow bread to absorb liquid and flavors to marry. Enjoy.
