Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Spinach, Tomato, Gorgonzola and Cashew Salad with a Parmesan Balsamic Dressing.

Hi Friends!  Sorry I haven't posted in a few days.  I'm still super sporadic with the posting.  Maybe one day I can get myself settled into a routine...but that day hasn't come yet.  Lately I have been on a really big healthy eating kick, and I am working on my second week of going to the gym every day.  I am taking the classes every day after I drop my daughter off at preschool.  I do Yoga on Monday and Wednesday, Body Pump (weights) on Tuesday and Thursday and then Pilates on Friday.  I am committed!  Wish me luck and consistency. :)


Today I thought I'd share with you my favorite thing right now.  I eat this salad basically every day for lunch.  It's a really really basic salad of Spinach, Tomatoes, Gorgonzola Cheese and Cashews and then I make this really amazing dressing from scratch (that I made up) that goes on it.  Every time I make this for a baby shower or brunch or something, everybody raves about this dressing...and now I'm going to share it with you!  

Here are the things you'll need:  

Fresh Spinach


Cashews, Gorgonzola cheese, and tomatoes.  I use one large tomato or two small ones (these are roma)


The salad is pretty simple.  Chop your tomatoes and throw it all in a bowl. 


I always put a ton of cashews on here because I'm substituting the nuts for a meat.  Sometimes I'll throw some chicken on here, if I have it. If I do that, I go light on the nuts.  



Here's how you make the dressing: 

You need: 
Olive oil
Balsamic vinegar
lemon juice 
Cavender's Greek seasoning
Garlic powder
Salt (optional)
Pepper
Grated Parmesan Cheese


There is no measuring here....you do everything to taste.

Start by covering the bottom of a small bowl with olive oil.  Just the basic amount you think you'll need on the size of your salad. 


Add balsamic dressing.  How much depends on how vinegary you like it.  


a little bit of lemon juice cuts down on the sharpness of the vinegar.  I prefer a fresh lemon...but this is all I had today.  Just give it a little squirt.


Cavender's Greek Seasoning. You can find it at Walmart.  This stuff is my FAVORITE.  I use it so much on so many dishes.  This is the salt free kind, but I usually buy the regular kind...they were just out, so I got salt free.  Cover the surface of the liquid in a good sprinkling of this seasoning.  Think about it as if you were covering your whole salad and put basically that much in your dressing. 


Next, sprinkle across Garlic, and cracked pepper.  Salt is optional.  I only used it because I had the salt free seasoning above. You really don't need it.  


Dump in a bunch of grated parmesan cheese.  This seriously MAKES the dressing.  You don't want to soak up all of the liquid (as it looks like I have done below...I haven't).  You just want a good thick sprinkling across the surface of the liquid.  



whisk with a fork (or a whisk...but who wants another dirty dish) And it should look something like this.
  Now taste. 
 See if you want a little more of any of the seasoning, or if it's too strong, you can add more olive oil to settle it down.  


Pour desired amount over your salad


Mix it up and enjoy! 


Oh man....this is so good.  



Hope Y'all have a great day! 
xoxo
Anna

shared with: 
one more time events
six sisters stuff








8 comments:

  1. This looks so delicious! I love spinach - year round - never thought of adding cashews! Visiting from www.fruitfulvinewife.com and Blog It Forward on your Feature blog day!

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  2. This looks so delicious! We've recently started eating salads, so I'm going to try this one.

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  3. Really good looking recipe. Good job!

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  4. This sounds incredibly delicious! And the photos look so good!

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  5. Wow, that looks good. Wanna come make some for me???

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  6. This looks so delicious! What a great light meal.

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  7. Yummy! This would make the perfect lunch or dinner!!
    I would love if you would stop by my Friday Favorites Linkup and share!
    http://thediaryofarealhousewife.blogspot.com

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  8. Yum, this sounds so delicious! I love gorgonzola cheese! Thanks so much for linking up with us at Motivational Monday! Hope to see you there next week!

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