A friend invited our family over for dinner. She always serves the best food. She served this yummy salad with a delicious dressing. It was so good I think I licked my plate...or was that in my dream? Anyway, make this soon for your family or for any dinner party. What a fabulous salad to serve for a Valentines dinner. Substitute the fresh pears with fresh strawberries. The pink dressing will make it look valentine-y too.

(another) Spinach Salad

Baby spinach leaves
Crumbled Feta cheese
Craisins
Sliced pears (peeled with potato peeler)
Sugared nuts (I use these)

Mix 3-4 cups spinach (you can mix in Romaine or Iceberg too)
Sprinkle Feta, Craisins, pears and nuts. Drizzle with Honey Paprika dressing and serve immediately.

Honey Paprika Dressing
*Erin R.

2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp sea salt/kosher salt
1 tsp celery seed (I've made it without this and it is still delicious!)

Mix above dry ingredients. Set aside.

In a blender or food processor mix:
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
1 tsp grated onion (or dried minced onion)

Pour dry ingredients in blender. Blend to mix. While blender is running slowly add 1 cup canola or vegetable oil. Printable recipe

Posted in healthy , salad , spinach , 0 Comments

Have you ever thought, "I don't like spinach. Yuck. It really has no taste and it sticks between your teeth. I know it is good for you but I'll take my iceberg lettuce thank you." Not so fast. Try this salad and spinach will be your new salad favorite. The dressing is de-lish and it really makes all of the salad parts a cohesive whole. mmmmm. Plus it has Iceberg lettuce and bacon and mushrooms and red onion......Phil, you may even enjoy this spinach salad.

Spinach Salad

1 large bag spinach

1 head iceburg lettuce washed and torn into bite sized pieces

½ lb mushrooms sliced

¾ lb swiss cheese grated

1 large container cottage cheese

1 lb bacon cooked and crumbled (I cut it into bite sized pieces before cooking)

1 red onion sliced thinly

Combine all ingredients and toss with dressing right before serving (dressing recipe makes more than you need)

Dressing

1½ T poppy seeds

¾ t. dry mustard

¾ C white vinegar

¾ C sugar

1½ C oil (I use a vegetable and olive oil combo)

1½ t. dry onion

1 t. salt

combine and chill overnight so the flavors can combine. Printable recipe

Posted in my favorites , salad , spinach , 0 Comments

Do you feel sluggish? Like you ate WAY too many treats over the holiday? Are you like me and feel like you need a little detox? This always works for me...a Green Smoothie. Drink one for breakfast for a few days and you will feel full and satisfied until lunch. Please note: although the smoothie is an unattractive green color it tastes sweet like the fruit...not spinach-y. This is how I make mine:

Green Smoothie Jodi Style

1 apple, sliced
2 oranges, peeled
1 banana, peeled
1 cup water
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup other frozen fruit ie raspberries, blueberries, mango, pears etc
2 generous handfuls of spinach
1 Tbs agave to sweeten (optional)

Blend until smooth. Enjoy!

Other add ins: carrot juice, flax seed, coconut water, olive oil

Interested in more green smoothie recipes? Look here

Posted in breakfast , fruit , healthy , spinach , 0 Comments