February 2nd, 2012

Sweetheart Salad with Strawberry Basil Vinagrette

I’m so pleased to be a part of the Southern California Lady Bloggers Romantic Progressive Dinner. This collection of recipes hosted on different blogs is designed to inspire a little romance in everyone for this Valentine’s Day. Welcome! Please enjoy the salad course.

Sweetheart Salad is a simple little salad with which I decided to take sweethearts a little literally. The dressing is a slightly sweet blend of strawberries and vinegar (with no oil or added sugar) and just a hint of basil. Add some fresh blueberries, pecans and goat cheese and then top it all off with some simple, yet adorable, heart shaped croutons.

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Sweetheart Salad
Serves 2 (or more, just increase the salad toppings and greens as needed)
1 batch strawberry basil vinaigrette (well, probably a half batch for if making it for two) recipe below
1/4 cup blueberries
about 12 candied pecans
2 tablespoons goat cheese, crumbled
2 cups romaine lettuce or mixed greens (spinach would be great, too!)
half recipe heart shaped croutons recipe below

For this salad, I like to toss the greens with the blueberries and pecans and then plate the base salad mixture and then add the goat cheese and croutons on top after it is plated.
Please keep in mind that the salad as photographed is very lightly dressed because it photographed better. Your leaves will be distinctly more red.

Strawberry Basil Vinaigrette
1 cup chopped strawberries (fresh or unsweetened frozen)
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons loosely torn fresh basil
dash salt
water

In measuring cup or small bowl, combine strawberries and vinegar.
Using an immersion blender, puree until smooth. (Or skip the measuring cup in step one and do it all in a blender)
Add the basil leaves one tablespoon at a time, pureeing until smooth.
Add salt and puree. If dressing is to thick, add water one teaspoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Keep chilled until ready for use.

Heart Shaped Croutons
Serves 4 (on a salad)
4 slices sandwich bread (or french or whatever you have laying around)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Heart shaped cookie cutters, pastry brush, cookie sheet

Using cookie cutters, cut heart shapes out of bread and place on cookie sheet
Let sit for an hour, then preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix oil, salt and pepper
Using a pastry brush or a spoon, brush heart shapes with oil mixture. Flip and brush other side.
Place in oven and cook for 8 minutes. Turn shapes over and continue baking for an additional 8 minutes until shapes are golden brown
Let cool on cookie sheet and enjoy!
Croutons are best enjoyed on the same day, but will keep for a few day in an airtight container at room temperature.

Now head over to The Gonzo Gourmet for Steakhouse Steaks for Two to continue on to the main course portion of the Southern California Lady Bloggers Romantic Progressive Dinner.

archived under: Recipes

9 comments

January 31st, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: 2.5

Spencer had his half birthday last week and while we don’t do much, we do try to at least acknowledge it. My original plan was to make some cupcakes, but I lost all motivation, but I’m glad I did. We picked up one of those big slices of cake when we got some takeout for dinner and I think it was the first time Spencer had chocolate cake. The results were hilarious. By the time he finished eating (and we gave him maybe a quarter of a slice), he was singing songs comprised mostly of jibberish.

He's got the 2 down, working on adding the point five

Do you have a wordless wednesday post? Link up below!

archived under: Photos

16 comments

January 30th, 2012

Heart Shaped Croutons

Heart shaped croutons are a super easy and fun way to make a salad festive for Valentine’s Day. It is such a simple way to add an extra little touch. Nothing says romance like toasted bread. Fact.

And, to be quite honest, any shape would do. I plan on making bunnies for Easter and you could even make footballs for the super bowl. All game days need a salad. It balances out the good stuff. I went with a simple salt and pepper combination with these, but feel free to spice them up with a little garlic powder, dried basil or oregano or red pepper flakes.

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Heart Shaped Croutons
Serves 4(on a salad)
4 slices sandwich bread (or french or whatever you have laying around)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper. fresh ground
Heart shaped cookie cutters, pastry brush, cookie sheet

Using cookie cutters, cut heart shapes out of bread and place on cookie sheet
Let sit for an hour, then preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a small bowl or measuring cup, mix oil, salt and pepper
Using a pastry brush or a spoon, brush heart shapes with oil mixture. Flip and brush other side.
Place in oven and cook for 8 minutes. Turn shapes over and continue baking for an additional 8 minutes until shapes are golden brown
Let cool on cookie sheet and enjoy!
Croutons are best enjoyed on the same day, but will keep for a few day in an airtight container at room temperature.

I had a little helper today. This is a great cooking project to do with kids. Spencer is only 2.5 and could cut the bread, remove the shapes, and brush them with oil. I did a little evening out when he was done, but for the most part he was able to do it. (It does depend a little bit on your desire for neatness and precision. Some of the hearts ended up a little rustic and he ended up a little… oily.) Pin It

archived under: Recipes

6 comments

January 28th, 2012

P366: Week in Photos Jan 22nd-Jan 28th

Super fun week! Mostly. Except for Spencer’s cold still dragging on, but he went to school both days and then my sister came for a quick visit and Spencer had his half birthday! Fun times were had by all.

Sunday January 22nd