Monday, February 13, 2012

The Secret Recipe Club: Dried Cranberry, Grape and Pine Nut Salad

So do you remember when I started to participate in my first food club called The Secret Recipe Club? Well it is finally back this month! There have been a lot of changes to the club but all for good reasons. I’m part of Group B and today is our reveal day. I had such an awesome blog called Cafe Lynnylu. Lynne has beautiful photography skills and lives in Augusta, GA. Sometime last year I was living in Georgia and I wished I would of been able to meet up with her, if I had found her blog earlier! I could use a few photography skill tips from her. ;)

I had a really hard time deciding what to make because everything looked good. I was going to make one of her Thirsty Thursday drinks because it reminded me of the south with their fun lingo. Instead I settled for a salad. A very delicious salad with an orange honey Dijon dressing and crumbles of goat cheese! I added a very small twist to the salad and used a honey goat cheese versus plain. I took her recommendation to add red onion and it brighten up the salad and paired well with the sweet and tart flavors. I don’t usually care to put fruit in my salad but the green grapes actually worked. I like to think of this salad as a nice “winter is almost over but not quite yet” salad! Oh and restaurant quality for sure!

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Dried Cranberry, Grape and Pine Nut Salad (for 1 serving) 
Adapted from Cafe Lynnylu

Salad Ingredients:
2 cups mixed baby greens
1 tablespoon dried cranberries
8-10 grapes, sliced
1 tablespoon toasted pine nuts
1-2 tablespoons crumbled honey goat cheese

Direction:
Combine greens, dried cranberries and seedless grapes. Toss with a small amount of dressing just to coat leaves and top salad with toasted pine nuts and the goat cheese. Drizzle a little extra dressing on top.

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Orange Honey Dijon Salad Dressing (6 servings, 1 tablespoon size):
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup 100% orange juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon fresh orange zest
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (I used less oil, Lynne calls for 2/3 cup)

Direction:
On cutting board, mash garlic and salt together. Place in bowl, whisk in orange juice, Dijon mustard, honey and orange zest. When combined, whisk in olive oil until dressing is emulsified. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper.

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I was getting very bored with salads but I’m glad I experimented with something different! It was definitely worth my while.
Fallon


12 comments:

Chelle B said...

This sounds like a salad I need to make on my next lunch break. Yummy!

Foodiewife said...

I think your photography skills are just fine. This is a beautiful salad, indeed. Great choice for the SRC!

Unknown said...

that is the best looking salad that I've seen in a long time. Cranberries and cheese. Yum! Excellent.

Tessa said...

This sounds really good. Add some protein, and it could absolutely make a meal.

Betsy said...

I’m stopping by from SRC but I’d love if you check out my new site seasonalpotluck.com February is oranges month so i'd love if you'd link up this recipe! http://bit.ly/zDoNfx

Fallon said...

Betsy: Thanks! I just added my link. What an awesome site.

Trisha said...

Thats a gorgeous salad. I'm sure it tasted great!

Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...

This looks delicious! Very colorful and pretty, too!

Lynne Daley said...

Thanks for the nice words regarding my blog. You made my very favorite salad and out of all the recipes I have on my blog, this one seems to be the one most looked at. I apologize for not posting a comment earlier. I would have loved to meet you when you lived in Georgia. I liked the honey goat cheese idea and I agree about the grapes vs. fruit. I think the grapes stand up well in the salad whereas other fruit would become watery or turn brown. Thanks again!

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Um, YUM! I'm especially interested in that amazing dressing - sounds so good! If you haven't had a chance, please stop by and visit my SRC post for Giant Chocolate Toffee Cookies

http://butteryum.blogspot.com/2012/02/giant-chocolate-toffee-cookies.html

:)
ButterYum

momto8 said...

the salad looks and sound fabulous...I love all the ingredients!!
I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

Katrina said...

This salad sounds de-lish. Love the dressing!