Simplest Summer Salad

Hi all– Wanted to layer up a quick salad to go with our Thai Peanut Chicken (see previous post) and this is what we had in the fridge.  It was on the table in 5 minutes– and thanks to a great peach, tasted like summer.  Here it is:

SIMPLEST SUMMER SALAD
2 handfuls of bag baby spinach
1 peach, pitted and cut into chunks
a handful of pecans pieces
2 tab. good olive oil*
2 tab. of thick rich balsamic vinegar**

Layer it up in that order.  Done.

*I love the Spanish Olive Oil from Trader Joe’s — it smells like a summer evening in Spain!
** Our kids gave us a couple bottles of the thickest sweetest balsamic from Westridge market in Ojai (thanks Jodi)– almost like vinegar maple syrup!!  It makes my normal balsamic looks tired.  So now I’m looking for the richest version I can find around here…  It really made the salad.

P.S.  I’m almost embarrassed to post this as a recipe.  It’s so simple.  But we really liked it and hope you do too!

Advertisement

Summer Salad with Apricot Dressing

.
Hi all– I love this bright, happy salad, perfect for dinner out on the picnic table.  But the best part is the dressing.  This recipe started when I picked up Ani for lunch at her office in San Francisco this week, we landed at a little sidewalk shop for especially yummy salad/sandwiches.  So this is my attempt to copy the luscious dressing on that salad.  I think it came out just fine.

SUMMER SALAD
red leaf lettuce
2 plums
2 apricots
1 avocado

DRESSING
1/3 cup olive oil
1/6 cup white balsamic vinegar
2 tab. apricot jam
1 tsp. seeded brown mustard (with lots of seeds!)
2 tab. pumpkin seeds (or more if you love them like I do)

Layer the fruit and avocado on a platter over the torn up lettuce.  Then shake up all the dressing ingredients in a jar until it emulsifies. Pour it over the salad just before serving.