Organic Baby Spring Mix Salad with Apples, Cranberries, Goat Cheese & candied almonds
I keep telling people, recipes are only GUIDELINES.. Not set in stone. Ask me how many times I reach for a measuring cup when I’m “cooking”.. NEVER – except to write a recipe for you guys. Now Baking is an entirely different story. That is a science. Measuring is a must!!! So with that said, if you like another ingredient, add it. If you don’t like an ingredient I have included, don’t use it.
You can TaylorMake just about ANY recipe, especially salads. They are so forgiving and easily re-createable, TaylorMade style
What am I talking about, TaylorMade Style? For instance, Once I had this awesome salad at a restaurant but they used mostly iceberg – The only thing I use iceberg lettuce for is a wedge salad. PERIOD! It’s Blah, zero taste, minimal nutrients, why bother? So when I re created this particular salad I used Organic Romaine Lettuce instead. The other thing I liked about the salad I ate at this restaurant, was the coconut on top – However, I personally thought it would have been much better with toasted coconut. Not only for flavor but texture as well. Not toasting the coconut let it get soggy in the salad after a few minutes. Another thing, They used peaches in the salad, I went with fresh mango since it had an island flair to it. That’s a perfect example of TaylorMaking a dish.
Now onto the Organic Baby Spring Mix Salad…
I LOVE this Salad. So did my TaylorMade Market customers. This was one of our best selling salads on the cafe menu. It’s light, healthy, Simple to make and absolutely DELICIOUS.
One of the best compliments I have ever received was from a big burly muscular guy that wanted a salad to go with his sandwich. Now, Let’s be honest, this is kind of a ladies salad. Fruit, nuts, cheese, come on… I can count on 2 hands how many dudes ordered this. So This body builder looking guy asks to see the owner, He then tells me “I eat a salad every day with my lunch and this one is hands down, the best salad I have ever eaten in my life.” Loved that moment..
In the restaurant, We served this salad with a Raspberry Honey Lemon Vinaigrette – My children are not a fan of the Raspberry, so I make it at home with just a Honey Lemon Vinaigrette and omit the Raspberry part.
This is such a quick salad to throw together if you have all the ingredients on hand. The only time consuming part is making the candied almonds. I usually make a big batch of candied almonds and store them in a container for quick additions to meals. You could also cheat and buy the pre-packed ones that are already candied for you. Up to you.
Makes a great light lunch or side salad.
I know some people are not huge fans of goat cheese but it REALLY makes this salad. Something about the sweet crunchy candied almonds with the tangy creamy goat cheese.. YUM! If you are Vegan, TaylorMake yours without the cheese.
Ingredients
- For the honey lemon vinaigrette:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
- 4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- Kosher or sea salt
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- For the candied almonds
- 3/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup sugar
- For the Salad:
- 3 cups Organic Baby Spring Mix Lettuce Salad
- 1 Red Apple, diced
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup candied almonds
- 1/4 cup goat cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Make the vinaigrette: Stir together the dijon, honey, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste in a bowl. Whisk in the olive oil. Set aside
- For the candied almonds: Combine almonds and sugar in a small skillet over medium-high heat; cook and stir until sugar is melted over almonds. You will be constantly stirring, so don’t plan to go anywhere for the next 3-5 minutes. Spread almonds in a single layer on waxed paper to cool.
- For the salad: Add the spring mix to a bowl. Then add the apple, cranberries & candied almonds. Sprinkle the goat cheese on top. Serve with Vinaigrette.
If you make this salad, Try it out on your husband, boyfriend, father or brother. Let me know what they think
Another TaylorMade Idea – Put it all together in a wrap – just slice the apple instead since the diced apple corners would rip through your wrap.
