Pear Walnut Arugula Salad

What can I say, I don't have a clever story as to how I came up with this recipe or why I made it. It is tasty, all the elements of a great salad. Sweet, nutty, crunchy, tangy! Minimal effort! So, no salad story but I can tell you that I went to the Broadway production of  Jersey Boys, The story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, which by the way was as great as I expected it to be! And thus the reason why I don't have a funny story for you! I can't get those songs out of my head! Did you grow up on that music? My parents were teens in the late 60's and early 70's so my whole childhood was growing up listening to music from that era. I can sing more songs from Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Isley Brothers and the Rolling Stones, than the music of the 80's! Just know that as I write and cook and bake these next few days I'll be signing "Beggin", "Can't Take My Eyes Off You", "My Eyes Adored You", and "Working My Way Back to You"! Oh and I've been singing so much around the house that the Warrior thinks "Walk Like A Man" was a song about him and the Princess is singing "Big Girls Don't Cry"! Good times! Life's too short not to sing and dance your way through it!

Pear Walnut Arugula Salad
Ingredients
4 - 6 cups Arugula
1/2 cup roasted walnuts, chopped
1 Bartlett or Anjou Pear, cut in chunks
1/3 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 Tbl Grapeseed Oil (or olive oil)
1 Tbl Lemon Juice
1 Tbl Honey

Whisk oil, honey and lemon juice.  In a bowl add washed Arugula and toss with the dressing.  Top with pears, walnuts and parmesan cheese.

Enjoy!

Warmly,
Mary

Feta Cucumber Tomato Salad

I am so excited about this salad! It totally made my day! I already had another post scheduled for today, but when I made this salad yesterday and tasted it, I fell in love! Sorry, Super Kicked-up Chex Mix, your debut will have to wait!  I seriously want to eat this salad every day for the rest of summer! It is so healthy and flavorful! I served mine up with a tall glass of ginger iced tea! This salad is all things summer! I can not pinpoint one flavor that stood out to me, but the combination of all the fresh and bright ingredients together brought a sweet crunchy freshness! It actually tasted like there was a sweet dressing was on top, but there is nothing sweet in it. This is such a very healthy salad. I can't wait to make it again!  Have a try for yourself!

Feta Cucumber Tomato Salad

Ingredients
1 large cucumber (or 3 baby cucumbers, like I use)
1 heaping cup of grape totmatoes
3 green onions
1/2 cup basil leaves
1 cup feta cheese crumbles
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1 Tbl grapeseed oil or olive oil
1 Tbl fresh lemon juice

Thinly slice the cucumber. If the skin of the cucumber is thick, you may want to peel it too. Halve the grape tomatoes. Slice the green onions on a diagonal, don't be afraid to use the WHOLE thing people (greens and whites)! Now toss all the ingredients in a bowl until it is mixed well and the veggies are evenly coated with oil and lemon juice.

Serve and smile! You can be proud of this Super Healthy Dish!

Happy Summer!

Warmly,
Mary

Strawberry Spinach Salad

You know what's funny to me? You request a healthy recipe but what are the chances that you make one of my healthy dishes over one of my decadent desserts? Ha, not likely! You know that I'm right! Until now...because this colorful salad is bursting with flavor! It's sweet and salty. Creamy and Crunchy! This salad is super tasty! I really hope you do make it. I do almost once a week!

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Ingredients

6 cups baby spinach

2 cups sliced strawberries

1 cup feta cheese crumbles

2 handfuls walnut halves, chopped if you want

Dressing Suggestions: I just squeeze the juice of one fresh lemon on top and I'm happy. But for a more luxurious (but so not healthy) option, go for the poppy seed dressing. 

Divide the spinach into 4 salad bowls. Top each one evenly with the strawberries, feta cheese and walnuts. Drizzle on the lemon juice or dressing. 

Enjoy!

Warmly,
Mary