Are  you ready for a little warm weather?

I know I sure am.

Tonight, it is suppose to get below zero here in Mid Missouri. Creamy, steamy soup with hot rolls is perfect for those cold nights, except….when you are craving some summer salads. A new store opened up not far from here and they had these beautiful strawberries on sale. I could not resist buying a few packages. They looked like summer and even smelled like summer. I knew I had some left over spinach from when I made chicken and spinach enchiladas. In my summer starving mind, I thought, what better way to bring in a little summer into my kitchen, then by making some Strawberry Spinach Salad.

I did not have a couple of items for the salad. My Super Hero son volunteered to go to the store to pick them up for me. Only problem was, he did not know what feta cheese looked like and he did not have a clue where to find sesame seeds. After several phone calls and going to a different and bigger store, he was able to buy what I needed. I offered to buy him a mountain dew for his troubles. The Super Hero loves his mountain dew.

All was forgiven.

While I fried up some bacon cheeseburgers, I made this quick and easy recipe for Strawberry Spinach Salad. Oldest daughter who does not cook, myself and even Company enjoyed big bowls of this salad, with our burgers. It was just what the doctor ordered to bring a sunny smile to our faces. The Super Hero did not want to eat spinach salad. I think he was afraid he would turn into Popeye.

If you are missing summer and what to bring a little bite of strawberry sunshine into your kitchen, try this spinach salad. You will not be able to resist the sweet vinegar dressing, loaded with strawberries and bacon and topped with feta cheese and slivered almonds.

Here’s to warm weather : )

This is all you need to make this summer sensational salad (even in the winter.)

The first thing you will want to do, is make the dressing. You will need to measure out the olive oil and the vinegar. Pour the oil and vinegar into a bowl.

Next, you add in the Worcestershire sauce. The you add in the poppy and sesame seeds.

Now, add in the sugar and the  chopped onion and whisk everything together.

Pour the dressing into a blender and blend for 30 seconds. (I just used my little shake blender)  The dressing will emulsify, turning in a nice, rich dressing. You won’t even see the onion.

In a large bowl, put in your spinach and your sliced strawberries.

Now add your bacon and feta cheese. I saved a little to use as a garnish for later.

Now pour on some dressing. I only used half of my dressing. I thought that was plenty, but to each their own.

Lastly, stir the salad together. Top with remaining bacon and feta and some slivered almonds.

All you need now is a fork and a lock on the kitchen door (if you do not want to share). ; )

The sun will come out tomorrow……. : )

Right?

Enjoy!

Here is the recipe:

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Feta and Bacon

10 cups of fresh spinach

1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced

4 ounces feta cheese

1 cup of bacon bits (I fried bacon and crumbled it ahead of time)

1/2 cup of slivered almonds

Dressing Ingredients:

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

2 tablespoons sesame seeds

3 tablespoons chopped onion

Directions:

In a medium size bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and chopped onion. Pour the dressing into a blender and blend for 30 seconds.

In a large bowl add the spinach, feta cheese, bacon and almonds. (I saved some bacon, feta and almonds for a garnish).

Pour on the desired amount of dressing. (I used about half of it, saving the rest for another salad)

Toss the salad and dressing together.

Garnish with the remaining bacon, feta and almonds.

Hope this salad chases those winter blahs away!

Becky

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