Strawberry Salad

This salad is a wonderful combination of strawberries, cashews and greens dressed in a vinaigrette that is made fruity with the addition of jam. I originally posted the vinaigrette recipe, created by the cooks at smuckers.com, on 2/13/2013 for my Yummy Spinach Salad creation. Again, the vinaigrette recipe is a variation of the original recipe, the salad ingredients were of my own choosing. This strawberry variation was created with spring and summer, and our Easter meal in mind. Blessings...

Recipe for basic vinaigrette:

2 tbsps. balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. water
1-1/2 tsps. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. minced garlic (I also have used garlic powder to taste)
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 cup olive oil or oil of choice

For this strawberry salad add to the vinaigrette:
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1 tsp. dried basil, crushed

1. Whisk together first 6 ingredients.
2. Slowly pour oil into dressing ingredients whisking all the while until thoroughly combined.
3. Stir in the jam and basil until dressing is smooth.

salad ingredients:
greens of your choice
chopped green onion
cashews
sliced fresh strawberries

Note: I cut the dressing recipe in half for the two of us and it will serve us for 3 meals. This might serve as a guide line for the recipe yield.













Combine salad ingredients in serving bowl and add desired amount of dressing. Toss and serve.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Honey Lemon Dressing

This salad dressing is light in flavor and perfect over a combination of greens, dried sweetened cranberries, avocado, tomato, sliced almonds, celery and green onion. For a sweeter dressing, increase the honey a teaspoon at a time until it meets your satisfaction. Blessings...

Recipe:

1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
1-1/2 tbsp. honey
1/8 tsp. white pepper
1/8 tsp. tarragon leaves, crushed
1/4 tsp. marjoram

1. In a small bowl, combine all ingredients except the olive oil.
2. Slowly pour a slow steady stream of oil into the lemon mixture while continously whisking until a nice thick emulsion forms.
3. Use as needed. Store dressing covered in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Yield: approximately 3/4 cup
Note: As the olive oil chills it will solidify, so the dressing needs to be brought to room temperature before use.

Yummy Spinach Salad

The recipe for the vinaigrette for this yummy salad comes from Smuckers.com. via my local newspaper a few weeks ago, the salad idea comes from what was in my pantry and fridge when I needed to get dinner on the table the other night. The recipe creator at Smuckers gives several different suggestions using their jams; I just adapted to what I had on hand. Blessings with your creativity!

Recipe for basic vinaigrette:

2 tbsps. balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. water
1-1/2 tsps. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 cup olive oil or oil of choice

1. Whisk together first 6 ingredients.
2. Slowly pour oil into dressing ingredients whisking all the while until thoroughly combined.

For this spinach salad, whisk in:
1/2 cup apricot preserves
1 tsp. minced crystallized ginger.

Salad:

1 bag (10 oz.) fresh baby spinach
4 green onions, sliced
1/4 - 1/2 cup cashew pieces, to your taste
1/4 - 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese, to your taste
1 can (10 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained

Combine salad ingredients in serving bowl and add desired amount of dressing. Toss and serve.

Yield: 6-8 servings

Sweet Spinach Salad

This recipe for spinach salad is one of my absolute favorites. The recipe comes from one of my "Taste of Home" cookbooks and I have been making it for several years with great success. Many spinach salads have the addition of oranges of one type or another, but not with a dressing that is also orange in flavor. When my granddaughters were here visiting I found that using a sweeter dressing in combination with fruits, nuts and greens, dinner was a much more pleasant time. If you have family members that aren't crazy about the color green on their plates, you might try this recipe. Blessings...

Recipe:

3 tbsps. orange juice concentrate
2 tbsps. sugar
2 tbsps. cider vinegar
1-1/2 tsps. minced onion
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1-1/2 tsps. poppy seeds
1 pkg. (10 ounces) fresh baby spinach, picked over
1 can (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
2/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted

1. In a blender, combine the orange juice concentrate, sugar, vinegar, onion and salt.
2. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Stir in poppy seeds. Refrigerate dressing for about an hour or until chilled.
3. In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, oranges and almonds. Drizzle with as much dressing as needed.

Serves: 6
Note: I use "Almond Accents" brand Butter Toffee Glazed flavored sliced almonds. We love them in salads.

Salad with Orange Vinaigrette

This easy and delicious salad recipe is great for everyday meal planning. It can be easily doubled for larger families, or for those times when you have invited friends or extended family in for a meal. The vinaigrette is easily put together with ingredients that are usually in the kitchen, and the salad makings can be changed to fit the taste of your family and friends. The vinaigrette is slightly sweet, and with fruit and nuts added, children will love it. Enjoy!

Vinaigrette:

3 tbsps. olive oil
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 tsps. orange juice concentrate
1/8 tsp. salt
Pinch of freshly ground pepper

Combine these ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid; shake well.

Salad:

4 cups salad greens of your choice. (We love a combination of fresh spinach and romaine)
Honey Roasted or Butter Toffee Glazed slivered almonds
Dried cranberries or well-drained mandarin orange segments
2 or 3 green onions, thinly sliced, or thinly sliced red onion to taste

Tear salad greens into bit-sized pieces into a salad bowl. Sprinkle almonds, cranberries and/or oranges, and onion to your liking over greens. Add some of the vinaigrette and toss. Taste to see if the salad has enough dressing for your taste. Adjust as needed.