Sweet Fall Salad with Cranberry Poppy Seed Dressing

Thanksgiving is almost here! I love Thanksgiving and I love giving thanks. We have so much to be thankful for! There is always plenty of food to fill our bellies and plenty of laughter to make our cheeks hurt. And even when times are really hard, there is still always something to be thankful for. At this very moment, I am thankful that my 3 kids still take a nap. It’s the little things, but I need this break in the middle of the day for some sanity! Yesterday, I was extra thankful for friends and our overall health. What are you thankful for this year? Let me know in the comments below!

Okay, now let’s think about how thankful we are for food. Turkey, potatoes, rolls, pie…..I am very thankful for all of them, but you know what else I’m thankful for? SALAD!!! Hahaha because it’s better for you than that other stuff AND it’s delicious, well, this one is at least. And look how gorgeous it is!

This salad is really easy to create. You will need a spring mix or darker greens, such as kale, arugula or spinach. Mix in some cherry tomatoes, mild onions (optional), dried cranberries, pecans and top with a soft cheese. I love using crumbled goat cheese. Simple, but delicious.

In honor of Thanksgiving and because I don’t really like jellied cranberry sauce, I made a cranberry salad dressing. But if you don’t have cranberries, you can still make a great dressing with all of the other ingredients (omitting the cranberry and cutting down the amount of sugar). Making your own salad dressing is super easy and a really great way to “wow” your dinner guests. I hope you enjoy and I hope you have a Thanksgiving filled with peace and love.

Ingredients

For the Salad:

• Salad Mix
• Pecans
• Dried Cranberries
• Tomatoes
• Crumbled Goat Cheese
• Onions (optional)

For the Dressing:

• 1 Cup Nudo Olive Oil
• 1/2 Cup White Vinegar
• 1 Cup Whole or Frozen Cranberries
• 1/3-2/3 Cups Sugar (Depending on how tart your cranberries are)
• 1 TBS Poppy Seeds
• 1 tsp. Ground Mustard
• 1 tsp. Grated Onion
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients except oil.
2. Start blending, while processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream.
3. Store in an airtight container. Shake before use.

This post is sponsored by Nudo and their delicious olive oils. Be sure to check out the Nudo Adopt program while you’re there. The holidays are coming and these would make a beautiful gift for friends or family. Blessings!