strawberry walnut salad

do you ever eat something that leaves you completely full but totally wanting more just so that you can keep that taste in your mouth? this salad did that for me.
I'm a huge salad critic. as I mentioned in my first post here, I knew more about Caesar salads when I was a kid than most people. I knew which places had the best, which spots made the dressing table side, and which served them with olives or other weird things that didn't belong. my love for salad has transfered to my home cooking quite often. I love to make a big salad in a big bowl, mix up some homemade dressing at the bottom, throw in some veggies, nuts, or fruit, and toss lightly with spinach, fresh herbs, and greens. just as I like to experiment with pizza, I like to play with salad too.

Strawberry Walnut Salad
makes one large salad
enough for 2 dinner sized salads or 4 side salads.

:: for dressing ::
1/4 cup olive oil
1/8 cup red wine vinegar
splash of cranberry juice {I use 100% cranberry juice with no sugar added because it's tarter}
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper

• whisk all ingredients in bottom of bowl until combined.


:: for croutons ::
2 slices of bread, cut into 1" slices
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp oregano
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese

• arrange croutons on a baking sheet.
• drizzle olive oil on croutons and using your hands, toss them on the sheet to cover completely with oil.
• sprinkle oregano and Parmesan on top.
• broil for 5 mins or until golden brown.


:: for salad ::
5 large strawberries, sliced thinly
1 link smoked sausage, sliced and cooked*
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
about 4 cups of fresh salad greens, I use the fresh herb mix that has dill, parsley, and other herbs mixed in it.
Parmesan cheese
fresh ground pepper

*I use Field Roast smoked apple sage vegetarian sausage, and I slice it then cook it on medium heat with a little bit of olive oil until the edges are browned, about 5 minutes.

• in the same bowl that you prepared the dressing in, mix together the strawberries, sausage, walnuts, croutons, and greens and toss lightly to cover with dressing. divide onto bowls and top with Parmesan cheese and fresh pepper, then serve.

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