Wednesday, April 20

spring means salads...

Always around this time of year I start thinking of good, crisp salads with homemade dressings.  With the days getting longer and warmer, albeit a tad slowly, I like the ease of salads for supper.  Gone (okay, going) are the one-pot dinners, the casseroles, and the hearty, stick-to-your-ribs soups.  For supper tonight I'm having a bowl filled with tender baby spinach leaves, sliced avocado, chopped almonds and crumbled goat cheese, all topped with grilled chicken and finally, drizzled with this simple homemade vinaigrette.  This is one of my faves ~ it's sweet, it's tangy, and it reminds me of a dressing that Pagliacci's makes, a really great local restaurant here in Victoria.


Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1 tsp dijon
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp each salt & pepper
2/3 cup good extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup apple juice

Whisk together first 5 ingredients.  Gradually add oil, whisking until well blended.  Thin the consistency with apple juice until desired texture is achieved.  Enjoy!

5 comments:

  1. Hello:
    We do so agree. As soon as the weather warms, one's eating habits change and cold food and salads become a must. Eaten, if at all possible, outside. Or so we think.

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  2. salads are my favourite too Trish...the variety is endless. I transition from cold days to warm by topping a simple green salad once dressed with a warm poached egg. yummmmm.
    I've already added your dressing to my recipe files!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hattatt ~ I agree, outside definitely!

    J ~ I've seen the poached egg on salads before, I must try it!

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  4. We had such a nice day today (although it's raining again now) that I decided to pretend it was summer and make a cobb salad...I think this dressing would have been perfect with it and would have added a nice touch of sweetness. I'll definitely be making it, cobb or no cobb, it just sounds delicious.
    xo J~

    ReplyDelete
  5. J ~ I love a good cobb salad! With bacon, must have bacon! xo

    ReplyDelete

love to read your thoughts!

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