Savory Salad

My family and I love to eat, and our passion for cooking is just as strong. It's tough having 3 chefs living under one roof...sharing one kitchen. Dad is kinda down for the count now - so the kitchen competition is down to two: Me and Mom. To keep it flowing {and to keep the peace} we divy up the dinner, who makes what. I'm usually put in charge of the salad - which is fine by me, salads are my specialty. For so many, salads are a half-assed afterthought. Some crappy romaine or iceberg, topped with some carrots and celery and then smothered in dressing. I like to model my salads after the season - as you should with every meal, cooking around ingredients that are in season {therefore full of flavor!}. It's easy in the summer and spring - I load up my greens with fresh fruits and herbs. As much as I love my grapefruit + avocado salad, it just doesn't seem right to eat during these colder months. So tonight's Autumn Savory Salad was the following:

• Spinach + Arugula
• sunflower seeds
• pepitas
• red onion {thinly sliced half moons}
• sundried tomatoes
• marinated artichoke hearts
  
• avocado
• hardboiled eggs
• proscuitto
• shaved parmesan reggiano
  *(optional additions: diced string beans + green olives)
  

The dressing was a homemade creamy balsamic vinaigrette. If you don't have the time to put one together yourself then just use a store-bought balsamic vinaigrette, touched up with a teaspoon of mustard, 1/2 teaspoon of agave and the egg yolks from the hardboiled eggs - shake vigorously. If you want to take a few extra seconds to put together a homemade dressing....

• 1/3 balsamic vinegar
• 2/3 olive oil
• juice of 1/2 a large lemon, or a full small lemon
• tablespoon of mustard
• teaspoon of agave nectar
• fresh ground pepper
• salt
• dash of dried tarragon
• dash of dried oregano
• dash of dried basil
• egg yolks from the hardboiled eggs {to make it creamier!}

Voila...enjoy! I'm going to start experimenting with squash and pumpkin salads - as well as mixing in some warm cooked greens {kale, collards, etc.}