Sunday, September 4, 2011

Strawberry Spinach Salad

When I am planning a meal I sometimes get caught up in the Main Dish that I lack in the accompaniment. The other night I had some inspiration. I had gone grocery shopping that day. This is usually my biggest inspiration. I found some beautiful Strawberries. They were plump and beautifully red and ripe! I knew they were going to be as sweet as they looked. I had no idea how I would use them, but knew I had to pick them up. I got home and decided to have Salmon for dinner. I chose a nondescript side dish of Rice with Broccoli and Cheese Sauce, but knew I needed something "fresh' to go along side of that. I knew the meal would be "heavy"  and 1 dimensional if not. I looked around at what I had bought and remembered the Strawberries!
Ok, I am just going to make a salad... what else is in the fridge? Ohhhhh I have some baby spinach leaves...Yum, the star was born!! Putting this salad together was pure inspiration....Just throwing things together and tasting as I went along brought together a side dish I would make again and again. You have to try it!

Strawberry Salad



4 cups Fresh Baby Spinach
2 cups sliced Strawberries
1/2 cup sliced Almonds
1/2 cup Bleu cheese

Dressing:
1/2 cup EV Olive Oil
1/4 cup Champagne Vinegar
1 tbsp Lemon Juice (optional)
**Combine well, add Salt and Pepper to taste.

Place Spinach and Strawberries in Large Bowl. Toss to combine.
Top with Bleu cheese and Almonds.
Sprinkle with Vinegairette and serve.

You will not believe what this fresh flavor will add to your meal...It will definitely be a great add on to your kitchen arsenal!

10 comments:

  1. We love strawberry spinach salad here! It looks super yummy! What a great meal :)

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  2. Lovely!! All my favorite salad ingredients...a keeper for sure~

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  3. Gorgeous! I love strawberries in salad :) Especially spinach salad. Normall I use a balsamic vinegar dressing but this looks very yummy too :) Buzzed

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  4. Yes I would recommend thsi sald too.I mostly use Balsamci vinegar.Straawberrys love it;))

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  5. Thanks everyone. I loved it too! I completely understand the nudge to go with Balsamic..but I tried to stay away form the sweet and go with the clean, fresh champagne vinegar to compliment the sweet strawberries..it was awesome! Thanks so much for stopping in to comment, I love the feedback :)

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  6. I love strawberry spinach salads, the champagne vinegar sounds perfect!

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  7. Just recently caught on to champagne vinegar, it's wonderful. Thanks!
    And congratulations on TOP 9!

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  8. Yum! What a simple and awesome salad!

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  9. I absolutely love strawberry salad. Great to see you at the top 9 today. Congratulations!

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  10. Ahhh sweet girl, I do believe your calling in life might have been to be my personal chef!!!
    I do a spinach strawberry salad too. I use walnuts instead of almonds however, I found out that almonds are better for you...that will be a change in my next salad. I love the idea of the bleu cheese however, I am the only one that likes bleu...do you think feta would be a good switch out? And for ease as far as salad dressings go, I buy Briana's poppy seed dressing, Target makes a good one too. Not too sweet, but oh so good.
    On a personal note, do you remember the poppy seed and nut rolls Irene used to make for holidays, do you have a take on that...I would love to surprise George. In RI George talks about something called sweet bread. The only thing close is Hawaiian rolls, but he says they just aren't the same. Do you have anything in your bag of tricks that would help make a great treat. I would love to have something for him to be reminded of his mama on October 17th (that was the day she passed)Thankful God led me to you. When I come down to visit my sister's I would love to see you and maybe have lunch. I will let you know when I decide to make a trip. You are an Angel sweet lady!

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