Recipe for Life–Spinach Salad with a Twist!

It’s Thursday, that means it’s time for a Recipe for LIFE. one that is simple to prepare, inexpensive and healthy.

In honor of summer, I’m giving you a salad recipe. I made it over the weekend and it was a big hit at the Father’s Day Picnic I attended. It meets the criteria of being healthy. The ingredients are fairly inexpensive and its pretty easy. Not quite as easy as tossing everything in a crockpot, but it’s still pretty simple.

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 3/4 cup raw cashews
• 1 cup craisins
• 1 pound spinach, rinsed well and cut/torn into bite-size pieces
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup sweetener of your choice (more or less to taste)
• 2 teaspoons minced onion
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup imitation bacon bits
• 1 small can mandarin oranges (drained, save juice)

Instructions:

In a small bowl, mix maple syrup and cashews well (be sure all cashews are coated). Place cashews on cookie sheet, cover with foil for easy clean up) and bake in 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes, till cashews are glazed and syrup is just about dry. Its okay, if cashews are a sticky. Remove from oven and cool completely

To toast sesame seeds, put into skillet over medium heat and stir frequently to keep from burning. When sesame seeds turn golden brown, they are ready. Remove from heat and set aside

Drain Mandarin oranges, save juice and set aside

In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, sweetener, onion, paprika, Lemon juice, olive oil and a couple tablespoons of mandarin orange juice. I like to make the dressing the night before or early in the day to give flavors a chance to meld together.

In a large bowl, combine the spinach with the glazed cashews and craisins.

Just prior to serving pour dressing over spinach, cashews and craisin mixture. Garnish with imitation bacon bits and ENJOY!

Here’s why Spinach is good for you.

Like other dark greens, spinach is an excellent source of beta-carotene, a powerful disease-fighting antioxidant that’s been shown, among other things, to reduce the risk of developing cataracts. It fights heart disease and cancer as well. (source- www.howstuffworks.com)