A Favorite I Took from College to the Real World: Spinach & Strawberry Salad

This very well might be the easiest salad you'll ever make.  It maybe takes 10 minutes, and that's just to slice the strawberries!  It may be a quickie, but it's a hearty salad that's surprisingly filling.  Using raw spinach instead of lettuce or mixed greens provides extra nutrients: protein, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E (antioxidant), vitamin K (good for blood coagulation and bone metabolism), calcium, iron, no fat, and only 23 calories for 100g (just under a 1/2 cup )!  It's a SUPER DUPER FOOD and somehow it's still delicious.  

This makes for a great summer salad with a good citrus vinaigrette or a great side salad for grilled chicken or steak.  It's versatile, easy, and enjoyed by almost everyone I know.  What could be better than that?
Spinach & Strawberry Salad
This will make about 4 servings (1/2 cup each), perfect for a side.  If you're enjoying it as a meal, I'd allot 1 cup - 1.5 cups per serving.

Makes me miss summer already

Ingredients:
1.5 cups strawberries, quartered
1 tbsp finely chopped mint (optional, but excellent)
1 package fresh baby spinach (I'll often do 1.5 bags)
3 tbsp sliced almonds (toasted if you'd like)
freshly ground black pepper
Preparation:
In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients.
How simple is that?!


Recommended Dressings:
A and I like to make our own simple balsamic vinaigrette (balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Grey Poupon mustard, salt & pepper), but there are several other delicious dressing recipes we've tried with it.  They may look like they have lots of ingredients or hard to make, but all you have to do is combine, stir, & serve!
Sweet Poppy Seed Vinaigrette: 
2 tbsp sesame seeds
1tbsp poppy seeds
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)**
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp minced onion
In a medium bowl, whisk together the ingredients; chill for 10 minutes before serving.
**Try substituting sesame oil for the EVOO for a sweeter dressing with an Asian feel.
Summer Strawberry Dressing:
7 large strawberries, cut in 1/2
fresh squeeze lemon juice (I like 2 lemons for a kick)
drizzle of agave nectar (like honey, but better for you)
salt & pepper
Put the strawberries in a blender; pour seedless lemon juice in.  Drizzle with a little agave nectar.  Blend until smooth; salt and pepper to taste.
Fall Cider Dressing:
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
Whisk the ingredients together in a bowl or blend.


And if you're a more open, squeeze, pour, enjoy kinda-dressing-person, these two are my favorite bottled dressings for this salad:

A great, just creamy enough, dressing with zing!
(click to find online)

Pure balsamic vinegar is great with strawberries... this is my
 favorite balsamic I discovered in Florence.
A little more pricey, but worth it!!!  (click to find online)

Phew... that was a quick post!

Happy Weekend and SOOOOOO Happy it's Friday!!!!!

I feel the times they are a changin' and good things are coming!  Yay for the weekend!