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

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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

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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

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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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Click here to pin this Dragon Fruit Smoothie recipe!

Earlier this month, I mentioned that I was working on rebuilding some positive habits to get my health, fitness and general well being back on track. One of those habits I mentioned was getting back into the gym regularly, specifically early morning workouts. One thing I love about working out early in the morning (other than the obvious feeling of getting it out of the way) is the peaceful drive I have to and from the gym. It’s still dark, there are barely any cars on the road and it just feels quiet. I like to spend the ride to the gym listening to podcasts, specifically self improvement/motivational podcasts. This is my time to listen to something that will promote growth and knowledge whether it be relating to my business, health or spirituality. I go in phases with what I’m listening to. I was on a big Chalene Johnson kick last year, and lately I’ve been going through old episodes of the Happier podcast by Gretchen Rubin after a friend of mine mentioned it to me recently. I’ve listened to it before but not regularly so I’m really enjoying catching up on different episodes each day.

One episode that struck me was episode #90 where Gretchen and Liz discussed a very relatable topic – the Essential Seven, aka the 7 areas in which every desirable habit falls. The sisters went through the list and discussed what they each could do personally to make their lives happier, healthier, more productive or more creative and I just thought this was such a do-able exercise for anyone who is in the frame of mind where they want to improve aspects of their lives. I figured I would share with you my Essential Seven and ask that you share yours as well! (Just copy and paste the list into the comment section and add to it). I would love to hear from you!

1. Eat and drink more healthfully

2. Exercise regularly

3. Save, spend, and earn wisely

4. Rest, relax, and enjoy

5. Stop procrastinating, make consistent progress

6. Simplify, clear, and organize

7. Engage more deeply—with other people, with God, with yourself, with the world

One thing that I am personally trying to do that happens to fall under #1 is to drink more smoothies. I really loved smoothies for years but somehow got out of the habit of making them. A friend of mine (who is a marketing rep for food brand, no relationship with blogging) recently introduced me to these dragon fruit smoothie packs from one of his clients. He shared some samples with me and I have been obsessed with making this smoothie a few times a week, specifically after a workout or in between meals. Not only is the color absolutely gorgeous (I think that is why I fell in love), but it is so refreshing.

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The post Hydrating Dragon Fruit Smoothie and My Essential 7 For Happiness and Good Habits appeared first on Aggie's Kitchen.

Click here to pin this Strawberry Almond Oatmeal Bites recipe!

I can’t believe this is my first post of 2017! I decided I needed a bit of a breather in January, some time to regroup after a month of helping my littlest guy recover from a tonsillectomy and my biggest guy (my husband) recover from a shoulder/rotator cuff surgery. I’ll admit, it was nice to take a break from worrying about picking up my camera and just focus on cooking for my family. My head is always spinning with new recipe ideas, as well as trying to figure out what to make for dinner that I honestly enjoyed just making recipes from cookbooks, friends and my blog without thinking too much of it.

One of the things I’m trying to get better at is making healthier snacks available for my kids to take in the car on their way to basketball or volleyball practices. We are full on entrenched in sports right now and spend many afternoons and evenings trekking back and forth between gyms. It seems like my kids are ALWAYS hungry and I’ve been trying to be more mindful about what they are snacking on and making sure they are eating more than just pretzels or crackers (it’s hard!). One thing I know for sure, anytime I make snacks like these oatmeal bites, quinoa bites or egg muffins, they are the go-to snack and don’t last very long. Seeing my kids choose those first is motivation enough to get myself into the habit of making quality portable snacks more often.

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Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July holiday weekend!! My holiday started last Thursday when my friend Kristen flew into town for a visit. We planned a fun couple of days earlier this year with tickets to Justin Bieber (we are closet Beliebers) and a day of eating and drinking around the world at Epcot with our friend Julie. Music, food, drinks and friends – doesn’t get much better than that!

Before we started getting ready for our night out with JB, I wanted to make something to snack on while we sipped some wine and got ready. I literally whipped up this Strawberry Basil Goat Cheese Spread with Walnuts in minutes, with ingredients I almost always have on hand.

It’s fun cooking for friends and I was excited to experiment with an appetizer idea that had been in my head for a while. My daughter and husband approved as well!

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This recipe for Strawberry Almond Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal was created in partnership with Bob’s Red Mill.

I’ve been wanting to make baked oatmeal for as long as I can remember. I could tell by the recipes I’ve found online that I would love it, mostly because of it’s texture. I’ve mentioned before, I’m more of a savory breakfast girl (eggs!) but I do enjoy a bowl of oatmeal or overnight oats every now and then. It’s so good for you and lucky for me, my kids love it too.

Baked oatmeal is exactly what it is – prepared oatmeal, baked instead of cooked on the stove top. I love using steel cut oats when I can, but I had a feeling that they could be tricky in a recipe for baked oatmeal because of their heartier texture and cook time. After doing a little research, I decided to follow Lisa’s method of baking steel cut oatmeal, and it turned out wonderfully.

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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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The strawberries have arrived, the strawberries have arrived! You have no idea how happy it makes me to see Florida strawberries back in our grocery store. Our season starts in December (hard to believe I know) and I think it’s safe to say that strawberries are probably the most consumed fruit in my family. We go through strawberries like crazy when they are in season (whether from Florida or California).

For the most part, we eat strawberries as is for snacks and as part of our meals. I pack them almost everyday in my kids’ lunchboxes and throw them into spinach salads too. My daughter spotted these Strawberry Banana Muffins (they are whole wheat – bonus!) over my shoulder on Pinterest last night and made me promise I would make them for her.

Of course, strawberries in smoothies are a given. I made this Strawberry, Grapefruit and Ginger Smoothie the other afternoon from the Clean Slate cookbook (I’m giving away a copy of it with three other healthy cookbooks – don’t forget to enter!). I found it in a section of the cookbook that is dedicating to “rebooting your system” and drinking to your health. There are 8 pages filled with smoothie and juice combinations and honestly, I want to try every single one of them. This Strawberry, Grapefruit and Ginger Smoothies falls into the “detoxifying” category and is recommended to drink whenever you are feeling sluggish (or to prevent feeling that way). I’ll take one every day.

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Long week?

(nod yes…)

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Ingredients

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My buddy Dawn from Vanilla Sugar is stopping by today…to share a mouthwatering summer dessert with you!  Try not to drool on your keyboard… 🙂

The post Vanilla Sugar is here… with some serious Strawberry Shortcake! appeared first on Aggie's Kitchen.

strawberries.

The other afternoon, the kids and I took a little trip over to Pappy’s Strawberry Patch in Oviedo to get our berry fix. We picked fresh strawberries for the first time last year and just could not get enough of them. You have no idea how sweet and perfect these little guys are…there is just nothing like picking your own fruit and eating it. At least for me.
It makes me very happy. 🙂

(7lbs of strawberries later…)

So when we got back to the house, I had to shout out to all of my Facebook friends and ask what I should do with my 7lb box of strawberries. So many great suggestions…strawberry shortcake, smoothies, pie, freezer jam….and sorbet. For some reason, when Mary Ann and Maria mentioned sorbet, I had to have it. I have never made sorbet and couldn’t believe how unbelievably easy it was to make. I followed a David Lebowitz recipe found on Yum Sugar.

The sorbet turned out great, it was so refreshing and such a nice treat.

Strawberry Sorbet
Recipe from Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

1 pound fresh strawberries, rinsed & hulled
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp kirsch (optional)
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
pinch of salt

Makes about 3 cups

Slice the strawberries and toss them in a medium bowl with the sugar and kirsch, if using, stirring until the sugar begins to dissolve.

Cover and let stand for 1 hour, stirring every so often.

Purée the strawberries and their liquid with the lemon juice and salt in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Press the mixture through a strainer to remove seeds if you wish.

Chill the mixture thoroughly, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

My strawberry loving family has gone through almost the entire box…so I think we’ll be taking another trip to Pappy’s this week. In the meantime, I am going to gather a few recipes to make later this week using those berries.

What’s your favorite way to eat strawberries?
Share your recipes with me!!

If you have a recipe to share, leave me a comment with a link to your favorite recipe…or you can always send me an email!

(my cool little helper….)

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!!

(if you look closely, you can see my Gina sitting and snacking…she just did not want to leave!)

Everyone is always looking for Fast and Affordable Family meals…
check out my tips here on The Back Burner blog!

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