Thursday, May 10, 2012

Fruits of our labors....

Happy Thursday evening to each of you!  How has your day been? 

Here we are enjoying some cooler temperatures for a few days.  Many years ago, I heard someone refer to this particular cooling as the "May 10th cold spell."  There would be no setting out of tomato plants until after this date in that location.  Here, we are pretty safe after mid-April to set out seedlings in the garden.

One vegetable that I really enjoy is spinach.  I will include it in omelets, use it for a base in baked eggs,
saute it with garlic, and eat it as a salad.  For some reason, we just don't have overwhelming success in growing spinach, so this year The Husband bought seedlings, hoping that would give us a jump start.
Well, I must confess that I cannot report on a good spinach crop.:-(  However, there has been enough to enjoy on occasion - if used sparingly.  So, earlier in the week, I had "stockpiled" enough to have for a salad at lunch. 

A fruit that I really enjoy is the strawberry!  Last year, we set out a very few plants (three or four), and we have been excited about the strawberries we are having this spring.  Now, there aren't many, but they surely are pretty.:-)

Our homegrown strawberries on top of our homegrown spinach!
I added a few strips of chicken to this salad, and it was a wonderful lunch!  Poppy Seed Dressing has always been a favorite of mine on a Spinach Strawberry Salad, and that is the recipe that I share with you in this post.  It is from a cookbook called The Table at Grey Gables (1998) compiled by Linda Jones.  Grey Gables is a Bed & Breakfast operated by Linda Jones and her husband in Rugby, Tennessee.

POPPY SEED DRESSING

1 1/2 cups salad oil (I use canola)
1/2 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon poppy seed
1 Tablespoon onion, finely grated, including juice

- In a large bowl combine all of the dressing ingredients.  Mix well with a whisk.  The dressing may be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator. 

This dressing may be used on other green salads.

Thank you so much for reading.  I always enjoy your comments.

Next post - Another from Grey Gables.

8 comments:

  1. Oh, that looks absolutely beautiful, and I'm sure it was quite delicious! Thank you for this dressing recipe; I just might have to try it sometime. You might not have much success with your spinach crop, but you surely do grow some other wonderful fresh greens! :-)

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  2. This looks delicious, Mom! I am keeping your recipe for poppyseed dressing for further use! :)

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  3. Your table looks delish, I do love poppy seed dressing too, I may just give your a try.

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  4. This is one of my most favorite salads and dressings. Happy Mother's Day, Nellie! xo

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  5. That LOOKS and SOUNDS delicious. I an't wait for strawberry season here. xo Diana

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  6. Strawberry and spinach salad is definitely a favorite at our house too.

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  7. that is one of my favorite salads. Your strawberries look great.
    I hope you are doing good. Have you been really busy? As nice as your garden looks I bet that keeps you busy and outside. :)Have a great weekend!

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  8. Does this salad look ever so GOOD! Perfect for a spring or summer day. And thanks for including the recipe. I always buy mine and now I have a killer recipe from you.

    Nann

    PS I've been gone several days to a ranch with no phone or computer service so I am way behind On blog posts. I have yet to catch up with everyones goings ons.

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