Spinach Salad with Blackberries

In the summer I make salad for dinner.

Ingredients:

spinach

chicken strips

blackberries

avocado slices

red onion finely chopped

candied pecans

mini mozzarella balls

tomato slices

Vinaigrette:

10 blackberries, mashed

2 tablespoons balsamic 

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons mustard

1 teaspoon soy sause

1 teaspoon minced garlic

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Put all of the vinaigrette ingredients in a jar with a lid. Shake the ingredients to combine.  Set aside.

Place a few large handfuls of spinach in the middle of each plate. And add small handful of blackberries and some sliced chicken breast. 

Add small amounts of mozzarella balls and candied pecans. Slice some tomatoes and avocado. Add the diced red onion, 

Drizzle the salad with the blackberry vinaigrette. Enjoy! 

Spinach Salad with Apples

Because you eat with your eyes. Salads should be colorful and full of flavor.

Ingredients:

spinach

finely sliced apples

candied pecans

crumbled feta cheese

crumbled bacon

chopped red onion

Mustard Vinaigrette:

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons maple syrup

2 tablespoons mustard

salt and pepper to taste

Add a big handful of spinach to the middle of your plate. Place some thinly sliced apples in the middle of the plate.

Add a small handful of candied pecans (from Trader Joe's) and some crumbled feta.

Add a few pieces of crumbled bacon and chopped red onion. 

Combine all of the vinaigrette in a jar, Shake vigorously and drizzle over the salad. 

Enjoy!

Salad for Dinner

Dinner tonight was a salad with some leftover chicken. This is such and easy salad to make!

Ingredients:

Spring mix or baby spinach

Chopped Granny Smith apple (s)

Candied pecans (buy from Trader Joe's)

Crumbled Gorgonzola

Finely chopped red onion

Leftover chicken, sliced

Vinaigrette:

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

3/4 cup canola oil

1 tablespoon dijion mustard

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 teaspoons sugar

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large bowl combine the spring mix, apple, gorgonzola, pecans and red onion.  In a small jar combine the vinergrette ingredients. Shake the jar and add a little dressing to the salad. It is unlikely that you would use all the dressing - unless you are making salad to feed 20 people.

Warm the leftover chicken and place the chicken slices on top of each salad plate.

This is also a lovely lunch to make when you like to have a nice lunch for friends.

Peach Caprese Salad

This Peach Caprese Salad is super refreshing and the perfect appetizer to serve at your next barbecue.

Simply layer peach slices, mozzarella cheese slices and basil leaves.

To make the glaze simple heat up some balsamic vinegar about 1/2 cup in a small sauce pan with a few tablespoons of honey for about 10 minutes until the mixture thickens. Then simply drizzle it over the peaches.

I love the smell fresh peaches.

Watermelon, Peach, Tomato Salad

After tennis or a long morning walk - I like to make this light and refreshing salad.

I used heirloom cherry tomatoes - but you could use cherry or grape tomatoes.

I simply chop the watermelon into bite sized cubes, wash and chop the tomatoes in half or quarters and peel the peaches and chop into bite sized pieces.

I garnished today with some chopped chives and a side of mint. But you could also garnish with chopped basil or flat leaf parsley.

If you are making the salad earlier in the day add a squeeze of lime or lemon juice.  

Also if you need the salad to be a little sweeter - add a tablespoon of honey. There is no recipe for this salad. Add more watermelon if you love watermelon! Make the salad for just yourself or for your family and friends! It is light and refreshing!

Backyard BBQ Menu

Tomorrow we have some friends coming over for a backyard BBQ.  So here is my easy and make ahead menu! I will try to remember to take some photos tomorrow!

Appetizers:

olive tapenade (made a few hours ago)

hummus (store bought)

Dinner:

spinach strawberry salad (will make dressing in the morning)

chicken and vegetable kabobs (chicken is marinating in fridge)

twice baked potatoes (did the first step a few hours ago)

Dessert:

key lime pie (will make in the morning)

watermelon cake (if I have time)

Beverages:

beer, wine, ice tea, soda

We are going out in a little bit - but if we get home early enough I might even make the salad dressing and key lime pie later on tonight.

Fingers crossed that I can post some pics!

Watermelon, Feta and Fig Salad

Today after some humid tennis - I mean I was sweating profusely after about 5 minutes of play. I decided to make my favorite refreshing salad.

This salad is so simple to make and can be made in less then 10 minutes.

Ingredients:

arugula

olive oil

salt and pepper

watermelon cut into cubes

feta cheese cut into cubes

figs sliced in half

balsamic vinegar

Directions:

Toss a few handfuls of arugula with a small drizzle of olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Scatter the dressed arugula onto a rectangle shaped plate.

On top of the arugula - add the watermelon and feta in a checkerboard type pattern. Add the figs along the outside of the pattern. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with additional salt and pepper.

This salad is so delicious and light. Enjoy!

Farmer's Market Chopped Veggie Salad

I am obsessed with chopped salads. I have been making chopped veggie salads every week since mid June!  I can add them to a pasta or an orzo salad. But my favorite way to serve them is over a bed of lightly dressed arugula.

There is no recipe for this salad - I often just chop what ever veggies I have. This veggie salad has green bell pepper, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, carrots, radish, cucumber, green onion and some chives.

I actually had some celery and red onion and I didn't have enough room in my serving bowl! 

Since I have been making so many chopped salads - I invested in a chopper. I bought the Sharper Image chopper from Bed Bath and Beyond (with a coupon!). 

Everything tastes better in the summer and even better if you can eat outdoor! 

Tri-Melon Salad

Last week I bought a new melon baller at Sur la Table. And I have been making melon ball salads.

I made this melon ball salad with a cantaloupe, honeydew melons and watermelon. 

I always squeeze a little lemon over my fruit salads. Sometimes I will also add a squeeze of honey.

It is so nice to have a bowl of fresh cut fruit in the fridge. Having fruit ready to eat is always a healthy snack. This fruit salad would be a great dish to make for your next BBQ.

Fruit Salad

Now that it is Springtime - I almost always have fresh fruit and fruit salads in the fridge. This fruit salad came out so pretty and colorful.

I used strawberries, blueberries, grapes, kiwi and pineapple. 

I also added the juice of two limes and a couple tablespoons of honey. This is a perfect salad to serve with morning eggs or lunchtime sandwich.

Fresh Fruit, Dried Fig and Goat Cheese Salad

I had this fantastic salad at the Nordstrom Cafe last week and decided to recreate the recipe at home. 

This was so simple to make and would make a terrific lunch to serve to your ladies who lunch or after a tennis match.  I made this salad just for myself - so you would need to adjust the ingredients accordingly to the number of guests that you are serving.

Ingredients:

4 cups of  a salad Spring mix

3 tablespoons of goat cheese, cut into small chunks

4 large strawberries, cut into quarters

4 dried figs, cut into thirds

15 raspberries

15 blueberries

15 candied pecans

Fruit themed vinaigrette

Instructions:

Toss spring mix with two tablespoons of dressing. Or you might want to serve the dressing on the side.

Place the lettuce on the plate and sprinkle with the goat cheese, sliced strawberries, dried figs, raspberries, blueberries and candied pecans.

I bought the candied pecans at Trader Joe's.

I bought the dried figs and salad dressing at Sprouts.

My husband doesn't like figs - he was looking for something to eat yesterday and saw the dried figs and said, "Figs! Gross!"

The Pear White Balsamic Vinaigrette that I bought is calorie free! 

Let me know if you make this salad. I think your guests would be impressed.