Cooks Network: SALAD

Plump juicy and sweet strawberries are the main attraction in this strawberry avocado spinach salad. We’ll top it off with a citrusy poppyseed dressing and voila! Your new favorite spring/summer salad is here.

Just look at all those beautiful strawberries?

I’m crushin’ hard on this avocado strawberry spinach salad situation that comes dressed with a citrusy poppyseed dressing, makes for excellent spring//summer lunches, and quick and easy dinners too. Bright, colorful, and eye-catching, basically all the things I love about a salad other than the most obvious one which is FLAVOR. Ever since the biological clock stuck the big 3-0, it feels like my body craves meals that are packed with nutrition. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll take a brownie or three right afterward because I have the worst sweet tooth that kicks in 10 seconds after I’ve finished eating a meal, but when it comes to the actual meal itself, I need the greens, the goods, and let’s not pretend I’m above it, the dressing.

Guys I can’t stop, won’t stop with this beautiful berry spinach salad!

We’ve got juicy, plump blueberries, buttery avocado, spicy red onions, creamy feta cheese, crisp baby spinach leaves, and sweet strawberries. Toss that all up extra generously with homemade poppyseed dressing and a hint of salt and pepper.

It’s refreshing and oh so filling.

And if you’re questioning the usage of crumbled feta cheese in a salad that’s loaded with sweet berries, hold the phone, think about the way creamy, salty, and rich flavors of that feta will pair with acidy, tangy-sweet berries. I’m telling you this combo just can’t be beaten!

Besides all the most obvious usage of strawberries, like pies, cupcakes, and shortcakes, I wanted to highlight how you can naturally incorporate more fruit into your everyday meals.

And with the weekend about 24 hours away I’m really trying to do this one diet on the weekdays called vegetables + fruits + lean proteins and attempting to keep it real where food doesn’t make me want to hate life. But really I already know when Friday strikes, it all kinda goes flying out the window until Sunday. A salad in one hand and 5 glazed and sprinkled doughnuts in the other, life is all about balance I tell you.

How about we make a deal where weekend foods don’t count? K thanks.

Noteworthy, i’ve made this strawberry spinach salad about 20 times — yes it’s that good. The dressing lasts for about a week in the refrigerator so meal prep it on Sunday’s and enjoy tossing a few ingredients together and calling it lunch on weekdays.

You can even prep this salad in your meal prep contains (these are my favorite) and pack it to go. Or if you work from home, step away from that desk for 5 seconds to toss the contents of your refrigerator into a bowl and drizzle it homemade poppyseed dressing. And when you’re too tired to cook, dice that leftover chicken from the weekend and add it in and make your strawberry spinach salad game stronger. ?? And if you’re summer 2014 was also all about Panera’s Strawberry Poppyseed Salad then toss in a can of mandarin oranges, chopped chicken, and a handful of pecans//almonds//walnuts and sit back and bask in the glory of your mega salad making skills.

PREPARATION

DRESSING: whisk together the juices, mustard, mayo, honey, and poppy seeds. Stream in the olive oil as you whisk until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

SALAD: Toss all the ingredients for the salad together with desired amount of dressing. Serve immediately.

MAKE AHEAD: salad ingredients can be prepared ahead of time and kept separate from the dressing until ready to serve. Leftover dressing will last for up to 5 days, covered in the refrigerator.

NOTES:

Sometimes I like to add grilled chicken to this salad along with mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, and chopped pecans for a different twist!

INGREDIENTS

POPPYSEED DRESSING

2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
1 tablespoon EACH lemon juice, lime juice, AND orange juice
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD

6 cups baby spinach
2 cups sliced strawberries
1 cup blueberries
1 large or 2 small avocados, diced
1/2 a medium red onion, sliced
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Serving Size: 1 (195 g) Servings Per Recipe: 4

Calories 266.1 Calories from Fat 190 72% Total Fat 21.2 g 32% Saturated Fat 3.7 g 18% Cholesterol 13.1 mg 4% Sodium 295.3 mg 12% Total Carbohydrate 18.6 g 6% Dietary Fiber 5.6 g 22% Sugars 6.2 g 24% Protein 3.5 g 6%

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For our evening meal last night we made a rotisserie chicken purchased from our local meat store – free range, no antibiotics, and no hormones. It tasted like the chickens we had growing up – delicious! As long time “empty-nesters,” we faced the usual next day leftover problem. Joanie’s solution was to make a classic chicken salad. To kick it up a notch she decided to prepare the salad in a “Caprese style.” We were off to search for tomatoes. Chicken salad stuffed tomatoes are low carb and tasty!

Serving the salad stuffed inside the tomato is what makes it a salad. We found home-grown large tomatoes grown from farms in the White Mountains. That is a treat for us in the hot summer heat of Arizona. The temperature is cooler in the mountains and the tomatoes are firm and delicious. You can also use smaller tomatoes and serve the chicken salad as an appetizer. Filling a lettuce wrap or an endive spear with the chicken salad would also make a perfect salad.

Chicken Salad Ingredients

Our rotisserie chicken is the base for this salad, but the avocado mayonnaise is the “glue” that holds it all together. Regular quality mayonnaise would work, as well. But, avocado mayonnaise has similar properties found in olive oil. It is high in fat, loaded with potassium, and also helps with weight loss. Studies also suggest it provides cardiovascular benefits and even benefits for our eyes.

One unique feature of Joanie’s recipe is that it is loaded with vegetables. Celery is the usual ingredient for chicken salad. Her chicken salad recipe also adds red onion and green onion. She also added basil. After all, it is a Caprese-style recipe. It is also lighter on the mayonnaise than most chicken salad recipes. Joanie used sour cream to provide a different flavor than just mayonnaise.

Adding to the creaminess is fresh mozzarella. Often called “buffalo mozzarella,” it is readily available and combined with the tomato provides the classic “Caprese-style.” All it needs is a garnish of fresh basil and you have perfection.

Bacon – bacon – bacon! Look closely and you will see bacon crumbles in the salad. Bacon makes everything better!

Chicken Salad Preparation Tips

After removing the tomato tops, use a pairing knife to cut a 1/4 inch circle around the edge of each tomato. Then use a spoon or melon scooper to remove the pulp or flesh of the tomato. It will then form a hollow shell. Make sure to save the inside of the tomato to make another dish. Marinara sauce is always our “go-to” for over ripened tomatoes or leftover tomato pulp.

It is a good idea to place the tomato cups upside down on a paper towel for a few minutes to drain any excess liquid from the inside. This will give you time to prepare the rest of the chicken salad.

Taste your chicken salad when mixed for saltiness. Bacon does vary in terms of its saltiness so we suggest mixing and tasting before adding your salt. You do not want the chicken salad to have an overwhelming amount of salt. Joanie also likes to add celery salt in addition to the chopped celery. It really does add to the taste! Stuff the tomatoes – garnish with basil and enjoy!

INSTRUCTION

Slice the tops off of the tomatoes and scoop out the fleshy inside pulp. Place tomato cups upside-down on a paper towel to drain the liquid from the inside.

Combine all remaining ingredients is a large bowl and mix well. Adjust the saltiness to taste based upon the salt content that is added by the bacon. Save some of the bacon crumbles and green onion for garnish.

Fill the tomato cups with the salad mixture.

Top with garnish of green onions and reserved bacon crumbles and basil leaves.

INGREDIENTS

2 cups Chicken chopped
1 cup Celery finely chopped
1/2 cup Red onion chopped
3 Green onions sliced
1 cup Fresh mozzarella diced
1 cup Crumbled bacon
1/2 cup Sour cream
1/2 cup Avocado mayonnaise or regular mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Celery seed
1/2 teaspoon Sea salt
6 Tomatoes large
6 Basil leaves

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Calories 375 Calories from Fat 279 Total Fat 31g 48% Saturated Fat 9g 45% Cholesterol 64mg 21% Sodium 801mg 33% Potassium 522mg 15% Total Carbohydrates 7g 2% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Sugars 4g Protein 15g 30% Vitamin A 28.9% Vitamin C 23% Calcium 14.6% Iron 5.7%

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BEST FRUIT SALAD RECIPES THAT WILL FILL YOUR BOWL.

I love fruit and I love salads, so combining the two just seem logical to me. Fruit salad is one of those things you can literally just throw together and it will taste good. Bananas, oranges, apples, blueberries and whatever else you choose. The options are endless and just as delicious. I just use whatever I have on hand. My son, Cannon loves making fruit salad. If this little man could choose one thing to live off of the rest of his life it would be fruit. Blueberries to be exact. {Well and maybe buttermilk.}

There are so many ways to take your average fruit salad and kick it up a notch and that is all through the dressing. So I went searching for the best of the BEST FRUIT SALAD RECIPES. And here is what I found. I can’t wait to try them all. With Colorado being in the upper-60’s all week, I am feeling the urge to make one of these every single day.

Fruit salad is not only a great side dish but also makes a great breakfast and snack. It’s even better when shared. So whether you are having a few friends over, attending a potluck or celebrating Easter {not too far off} – you can whip one of these BEST FRUIT SALAD RECIPES in just a few minutes. Not only are they delicious but your friends and family will be in awe. So tell me, which one are you going to make first?

XOXO San

Below are my favorite kitchen items that I consider are my essentials for making the most beautiful fruit salads.

Knives: A good set of kitchen knives is essential for preparing any meal. I just recently invested in some Cutco knives and I have not regretted it one bit. These are hands down my favorite knives I have owned.

Cutting Board: For me this is a kitchen must-have and kitchen counter saver. While we have counter tops you can cut on, I find that this extra step will preserve my counter. I also find that using a cut board makes for less clean up afterwards. I love this cutting board because it has a groove all the way around the board prevent juices from running all of the counter.

Mixing Bowls: I love having a variety of sizes of mixing bowls. From small to large, I find that having at least 3 bowls of different sizes has been an essential in my kitchen. I prefer Pyrex because of the durability.

Serving Spoon: I love to have a gorgeous and generous in size spoon to serve fruit salads with. I prefer to not have slots in my spoon for fruit salad so that you can enjoy all the delicious juice.

Don’t forget to pin this to your favorite Pinterest board for later.

1. MIXED FRUIT SALAD WITH HONEY-LEMON YOGURT DRESSING – I love the addition of pecans. This will be the first one we will be trying – I am sure it will be at our Easter table.

2. BERRY SALAD IN HONEY MASCARPONE – This is just gorgeous and I love that Jen added mascarpone cheese, yum!

3. BERRY SALAD WITH HONEY LIME AND MINT DRESSING – I want to just drink that dressing straight from the bowl.

4. BEST WINTER FRUIT SALAD – I can see why this is named the BEST EVER.

5. HONEY LIME RAINBOW FRUIT SALAD – Anything with honey and lime we love so I can see this being a keep in our home.

6. TROPICAL FRUIT SALAD WITH VANILLA BEAN – I love how these are served, such a clever idea.

7. MEXICAN FRUIT SALAD – I would have never have thought of this. Can’t wait to try it!

8. SKINNY AMBROSIA FRUIT SALAD – One of my favorites “slimmed” down.

9. SECRET FRUIT SALAD – So, can you guess the secret?

10. WINTER FRUIT SALAD – All of my kids favorites in one salad.

11. SUNSHINE SALAD RECIPE – My daughter Tea is most excited to try this because it has sunshine in the title.

12. PINA COLADA FRUIT SALAD – This makes me want to head to the beach and drink Pina Coladas all day long.

13. MELON & PINEAPPLE FRUIT SALAD WITH HONEY, LIME AND MINT DRESSING – I love how the fruit is cut up in the salad, letting you get a bite of everything in one spoonful.

14. WINTER FRUIT SALAD – You can never go wrong with too much kiwi.

15. FRUIT SALAD WITH HEALTHY YOGURT SAUCE – The sauce is what sold me on this recipe.

16. EASY WINTER FRUIT SALAD – Just a few ingredients and simply delicious.

17. FRUIT SALAD RECIPE WITH ORANGE POPPY SEED SYRUP – I love poppy seed in any salad, love this dressing.

18. HONEY LIME QUINOA FRUIT SALAD – I love quinoa and fruit in a salad and this makes a great combination.

19. HONEY LIME FRUIT SALAD – Simple, sweet and fantastic.

20. BLUEBERRY PINEAPPLE FRUIT SALSA {SALAD} – Eat as a salsa with chips or devour by the spoonful, either way this is a must try.

21. BERRY WATERMELON FRUIT SALAD – This is a summer time must have.

22. 5-INGREDIENT FRESH FRUIT SALAD – 5 ingredients away from deliciousness.

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