Sweet Spinach Salad

     I made this salad for my daughter's A Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday Party, which my preggo friend attended and fell in love with.  So, I had to include it in menu for her baby shower.  It really is good!

Recipe from The Food Charlatan

What you need:

Dressing-

2 cloves garlic (minced)

1/3 cup olive oil

1/3 cup white wine vinegar

1 TBsp sugar 

1/2 tsp salt

pepper to taste

1/4 tsp dry mustard

Pecans-

2 TBsp unsalted butter

1 cup pecan halves

2 Tbsp brown sugar

Salad-

10-13 oz baby spinach (washed and dried)

1 pineapple (chopped into bite-size pieces)

6 oz feta cheese

How to make it:

Combine all the dressing ingredients in a mason jar or plasticware.

Shake vigorously and set aside.

In a small pan, heat the butter over medium-high heat.

When hot, add the pecans and stir to coat.

Add the brown sugar and stir again.

Stir occasionally until the sugar starts to caramelize, about 2-5 minutes.

Pour onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet to cool.

In a large bowl add the spinach, pineapple, and feta.

Toss to combine.

Sprinkle the top with cooled pecans and serve with the dressing.

Then ENJOY!

Wilted Spinach Salad

What you need:

8 slices thick-cut bacon

6 TBsp plus 1 tsp brown sugar (divided)

1 tsp ground black pepper

2 packages fresh baby spinach (6oz each)

1 medium Granny Smith apple (cored, cut into bite-size pieces)

1/2 cup red onion (thinly sliced)

3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

4 tp Dijon mustard

salt and pepper to taste

4 hard boiled eggs (peeled, cut into wedges)

How to make it:

Preheat oven to 400˚F.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on the prepared pan.

Top the bacon slices evenly with 2 TBsp plus 1 tsp of the brown sugar, sprinkle with black paper.

Bake for 22-25 minutes or until crisp, remove bacon from bar pan to paper fowl-lined plate and cool completely.

Reserve 2 TBsp bacon drippings from the bar pan.

Cut bacon into 1/2 inch pieces.

In a mixing bowl, combine spinach, apple, and onion.

Whisk remaining 4 TBsp brown sugar, reserved bacon drippings, vinegar and mustard in a microwavable bowl until well blended.

Cover and microwave on HIGH for 2 minutes or until bubbly.

Pour over spinach mixture, toss to coat.

Season with salt and pepper.

Garnish with egg wedges and bacon pieces.

Serve immediately, ENJOY!