Strawberry & Spinach Salad

This is one of my favorite Spring salads and is so easy to make!  There really aren't any set amounts for the ingredients.  It's pretty much up to you. If you love strawberries, go heavy on those and vice versa if Spinach is your favorite.


Baby Spinach
Strawberries
Pecans
Olive oil
Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar
Sea Salt
Goat Cheese

I add in some pecans pan-cooked cooked in a splash of raspberry balsamic vinegar and a touch of Celtic sea salt (regular balsamic also works nicely).

Dress with (raspberry) balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt to taste. As always...a touch of goat cheese sends it right over the top.

I accidentally bought regular spinach this time...and it was good...but baby spinach is fabulous.

As a side, I cooked some antibiotic free chicken tenders in regular balsamic vinegar and sea salt.  They were also delicious cold!

XO

BLT Pizza

This was delicious!  I kicked back with some Brooklyn Brewery Winter Ale...watched some TV and relaxed with this yummy creation a couple weeks ago.

I make my own pizza dough and sauce, but your level of involvement is completely up to you :)

Basic Pizza Dough Recipe

I started the dough early in the day and set it to rise near my kitchen heater. I also cooked a package of bacon on a rack in the oven for about 30 minutes to get it nice and crisp (as well as save the drippings).

I also put the sauce on to simmer:

1 28oz can diced (organic) tomatoes
1 T (organic) tomato paste
1 t Minced Garlic
Onion Powder
Dried Basil
Dried Oregano
Fennel Seeds
Sea Salt
Pepper


I basically made a bacon pizza (with cheddar cheese) and then topped it with a salad of spring mix and plum tomatoes (dressed with red wine vinegar, warm bacon drippings, onion powder, ground mustard and sea salt).

Heat oven to 400F (if you have a pizza stone, let it heat for 40-45 minutes) and bake pizza for 15-20 minutes or until crust is done and cheese is melted.  I bought a peel especially for pizza making...it's really fun!

MMMMM.....


*I used the leftover bacon in some savory oatmeal for the next couple days!

Tuna and Avocado Salad

Summer is winding down...and this salad is so yummy and easy I wanted to share it!

Tuna, Tomato and Avocado with mixed greens.

Dressing: Lemon Juice, Olive Oil salt and Pepper.


I am so in love with avocados and picking the right time to cut into one has become a bit of a game. The prize being the gorgeous green and yellow slices pictured above.

My gramma used to make sandwiches with just avocado and salt.

Bliss.

XOXO

Thanksgiving Salad!

I LOVE this salad...


Mixed greens...dried cranberries, pecans, gorgonzola, organic roasted turkey breast....I pan-cooked the pecans in some raspberry balsamic vinegar...then tossed the salad with the vinegar and olive oil...salt and pepper.

Definitely something to be thankful for...LOL