Strawberries!!!

As you can see, my little strawberries are getting bigger every day! Can't wait to taste one of those little jewels! Now I'm dreaming of all my favorite strawberry recipes. Of course, I know that I will only get so many from my own little plants. I will most likely save these for the family to snack on. However, I know I will be buying some fresh strawberries from my favorite produce stand soon.

One of my very favorite strawberry recipes is Strawberry Spinach Salad. It may sound like a bit strange at first, but believe me it is absolutely delicious. Even people who wouldn't normally eat spinach love this salad. Try this at your next cookout. Everyone will be begging for the recipe. Of course, whether you share it or not is completely up to you! ;)

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD

Dressing:

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup sugar

2 tablespoons poppy seeds

1 1/2 tablespoons minced onion
1/4 teaspoon paprika

Pinch of Salt

Fresh Ground Black Pepper to taste

Salad

2 bunches spinach, rinsed, towel dried and torn into bite-size pieces

4 cups sliced strawberries (1 qt)
1/4 cup blanched, slivered almonds

Directions:

Whisk all dressing ingredients together until combined. Cover and let sit for a half hour. (You can refrigerate if you like, but dressing should be served at room temperature for best flavor and consistency.)

Mix salad ingredients and toss with dressing immediately before serving. You can sprinkle some extra poppy seeds on top before serving.

Enjoy!