Springtime is here and the signs are everywhere in the garden. Stalks of young rhubarb are growing taller and redder each day, the buds on the fruit trees are pink and getting ready to blossom, and the bright green grass is growing again. Although the air is still chilly around here, all is becoming fresh and new again.
To my oldest son, nothing in the garden is more fabulous than picking and eating fresh red strawberries right where they grow. That'll start happening in June, but for now we can enjoy the good prices on imported strawberries at our grocery store as we mark the start of spring with fresh and vibrant flavours like this spinach and strawberry salad with crumbled feta and a balsamic vinaigrette. Simply delicious!
This salad comes together in a snap. The dressing is four simple ingredients shaken in a small jar and poured over top. I love fruit in a veggie salad. Sweet red strawberries are a beautiful thing and they pair smashingly with balsamic vinegar. It's a combo I want to put on our plates plenty this growing season.
Here's how I made it:
Makes 2 large servings or 4 small
4 cups fresh spinach leaves
1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp liquid honey
1/4 tsp salt
I placed the spinach into my serving dishes then topped them with the sliced strawberries and feta cheese. In a small jar, I combined the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey and salt. With the lid on the jar I gave the contents a good shake, then I poured the vinaigrette over the salad to serve.
So simple. So fresh. So delicious!
Which foods say spring to you? Are you seeing your vegetable garden come to life yet? What do you hope to grow this year?