I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get back in the salad again. Although soup really is one of my g0-to favorite ways to fill up (any time of the year), salads are high up on the list as well (if you’ve been reading my blog for a while then you probably know how much I love salad by now!).

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Click Here to Pin this Greek Salad Dressing recipe.

Hi all, I can’t believe it’s been a few months since I posted here, but apparently it has (ironically I started writing this post a month ago and am just now getting around to finishing it). Our spring was filled with sports and school and life and I haven’t had much time or energy to blog to be honest. My friend Kristen just mentioned this the other day and it summed up everything I’ve been feeling this year – I thought having young kids kept me busy but the ages we are in right now (13, 11 and 4) come with so many more activities, school work and life stuff that keeps us going.

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Click here to pin this Strawberry Spinach Salad recipe!

This recipe for Strawberry Spinach and Walnut Salad was originally shared in May 2011 (6 years ago!). I’ve updated this post with new photos for you. It’s still one of my favorite salads and one I’ve been enjoying a lot lately.

Let me introduce you to my salad of the week. Well, let’s say, salad of the season. Because it’s not going anywhere for a while.

I was originally inspired to make this salad for the first time many years ago after seeing it on my friend Tina’s site after she suggested it to me and I have craved it oh so often ever since.

I know salads like this Strawberry Spinach Salad have been floating around for awhile so it’s not the most original recipe. But what I want you to do is look at it more from a nutritional stand point than just as a salad plate. I always seem to fall back on this salad when I’m trying to really lighten up a meal without missing out on flavor and a nutritional boost.

I felt like eating this on it’s own tonight, but it would be perfect with some grilled shrimp, chicken or fish.

So when I say look at this plate of goodness from more of a nutritional standpoint this is what I mean. I don’t always feel like eating a salad. For some reason making at a salad at home is the last thing I want to do. I love eating them out, but at home, eh, too much work maybe? Silly, I know. But when you see how good for you a plate like this is, you can’t help but start to crave it. Well, at least that’s how I work.

Healthy Spinach Strawberry Salad with Walnuts

Spinach (source: Livestrong.com)

• low calorie
• one cup contains more than daily requirements of vitamin K, vitamin A
• high in manganese, folate and magnesium
• excellent source of dietary fiber, calcium and protein
• contains cancer fighting antioxidants
• is known to promote cardiovascular health with high levels of magnesium that can lower high blood pressure levels

Strawberries (source: Livestrong.com)

• rich source of vitamins such as vitamin A, B-complex, C and E
• reduces inflammation in the body
• has higher levels of vitamin C than oranges
• powerful antioxidant
• healthy dose of dietary fiber that aids in reducing bad cholesterol

Walnuts (source: BBC News)

• highest level of antioxidant than any other nut
• great source of protein and omega-3

Like this Spinach Strawberry Salad? Pin It Here!

See what I mean? Good stuff.

I can’t not talk about the salad dressing here. We go through a lot of jelly jars in my house thanks to our healthy obsession with PB&Js so I find myself with almost empty jars pretty often. When the jar has that tiny bit of jelly left at the bottom is the best time to pull it aside to make a salad dressing – right in the jar. I use condiment jars to make vinaigrettes often, like this Mustard and Herb Vinaigrette, and the ideas are pretty endless when you are a condiment collector like we are. So simple, so good.

More homemade vinaigrettes to try:

Clementine Vinaigrette

Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.3 from 6 reviews

Strawberry Spinach and Walnut Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

• Author: Aggie's Kitchen
• Yield: 1 salad
• Category: Salads, Salad Dressings

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This Strawberry Spinach and Walnut Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette is classic – and full of nutrition! One of my favorite salads ever.

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Ingredients

For the salad:

• 2 cups (handfuls) of fresh spinach
• 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
• 8 walnut halves, rough chopped
• 1 oz crumbled gorgonzola (about a 1/4 of plastic container)
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/3 avocado, sliced (optional)

For the vinaigrette:

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon raspberry (or other berry) preserves
• 1 teaspoons stone ground mustard

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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Instructions

To prepare salad:

1. Layer each ingredient on a large salad plate. Serve with Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette.

To make Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette:

1. Combine ingredients in a jar or tightly sealed container. Shake vigorously until well combined.

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Notes

Recipe inspired and adapted from Mommy’s Kitchen

Follow Aggie’s Kitchen’s board Homemade Salad Dressings on Pinterest.

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Whether we are ready or not, we are heading into the second week of December which means Christmas is right around the corner. Lots to think about and plan for – getting the house decorated and festive, shopping for gifts for the kids, getting together with family and friends and most importantly food. Planning holiday food is always on my brain.

When it comes to entertaining or hosting dinner over the holiday season, I try to keep things simple. The reality is, I have 3 young kids and most of my friends are in the same boat so we don’t have much time to go over the top when it comes to cooking. Maybe it’s because I’m Italian, but I love making pasta for family and friends, or honestly even hosting a pizza night if we are getting together with our kids and going the super easy and casual route. It’s just nice to get together this time of year, so sticking to whatever you are comfortable with is important in my book. No pressure, no fuss, just enjoy.

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Is it me or are we kind of in a weird in between place with produce seasons? Maybe it’s my grocery store, but I haven’t been overly excited about what I’ve been seeing lately (I think this is a cue to take my own advice and get myself to my favorite produce market).

One thing I know for sure…we are headed into citrus season and I couldn’t be more happy about it. I walked into my son’s preschool class and his teacher had just peeled a grapefruit and the smell was intoxicating. Citrus makes me happy!

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The school year is winding down for us this week, the countdown is on! I am so ready for summer break to get started and slooooow down. I am sure that I’m not alone in feeling this way! The month of May kind of kicked me in the butt so it will be nice to not feel like we have somewhere to be or go or do for a while. It’s possible that I may start cooking proper dinners again too. 😉

Oh hey there summer…

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Vinaigrettes are my absolute favorite way to dress a salad. I believe my love of vinaigrettes come from my parents and grandparents because growing up, there were no bottles of ranch or blue cheese on our dinner table, there was oil and vinegar.

Fast forward a few years to my parents’ second restaurant and that is where I learned how to make a proper vinaigrette (aka house dressing).

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The recipe for Asian Almond Slaw Salad was developed in partnership with Fisher Nuts.

Anyone have Spring Fever yet? I think it’s safe to say always have spring fever, for the most part. Our weather situation in Florida is nothing to complain about but I cherish the small pocket of time it feels like spring here, which is right about now. I spent most of this last weekend in the yard trimming landscaping and planning for flowers. Cleaning up my herb pots is next on the list. Nothing feels as good to me as a few hours of work in the sunshine (when it’s not sweltering hot).

This is the time of year that I am also ready to get back in the salad. I say that all the time but January is just not a big salad month for me, and I have to be honest, I’m missing raw, crunchy veggies in my life right now. I pulled together this Asian Almond Slaw Salad in honor of getting back in the salad and sharing a heart healthy recipe with you since February is American Heart Month. I think it’s safe to say you already know that fresh fruits and veggies are considered heart healthy foods, but did you know that nuts are too?

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The week between Christmas and New Year’s is my favorite week of the year. I always feel more relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on whatever lies ahead in the start of the new year. I love looking back on the blog while writing posts like this and seeing what I’ve cooked over the last 12 months. For someone who didn’t’t know what to make for dinner more than half of the time, I didn’t do half bad.

I can’t thank you enough for visiting Aggie’s Kitchen for recipes, this blog fulfills me more than you know and I appreciate all my readers, friends and family who have supported it and me over the years. Hope you are enjoying the holiday and I wish everyone the best in the upcoming year. Bring on 2016!

Here are the Top 15 Most Popular Recipes on Aggie’s Kitchen from 2015: 

1. Creamy Avocado Lime Dressing

2. Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

3. Mexican Slaw Salad with Black Beans

4. Slow Cooker Asian Citrus Pork Tenderloin

5. Honey Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

6. Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken Melts

7. Strawberry Grapefruit Ginger Smoothie

8. Apple, Celery, Walnut Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

9. Roasted Red Peppers with Pesto and Goat Cheese

10. Greek Village Salad

11. Almond Peach Kefir Smoothie

12. Taco Turkey Black Bean Rice Bowls

13. Spring Beet and Goat Cheese Salad with Walnuts

14. Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts with Pecans

15. Kale, Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Frittata

From the past:

Best of 2014 – My Favorites and Yours

Best of 2013 – My Favorites and Yours

My 12 Favorite Meals of 2012

Bye Bye 2011

Top 5 Favorites of 2009

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If you looked inside my refrigerator, you would find a small section of salad dressing bottles that are a third to half empty. I have a salad dressing buying problem. I buy them thinking it will make my salad a day habit easier and more interesting, but in reality, even if I love the dressing I bought (there are a couple I really love) I tend to get tired of them real quick. Unless I get through the bottle in a week, I pretty much shun the dressing because it doesn’t taste “fresh” anymore. Such a waste. I probably should just limit myself to buying one bottle at a time…or just continue to make my own. 🙂

There really is nothing more fresh or better tasting than healthy homemade salad dressings. I do reserve the right to pick one up at the store to change things up or if I’m feeling lazy, but it’s so easy to make your own salad dressing it’s a shame not to. The combinations are endless and you can’t question any of the ingredients. Here are a few of my personal favorites I’ve posted over the years. Grab a little jar and get ready to make your own!

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