But this weekend I perfected an end-of-the-season autumn salad that I'll probably recreate (even if I have to buy store-bought lettuce) from now until Christmas.
Enter Leaf Peeper Salad. This salad, with its burst of green, red, orange and browns remind me of the color-changing foliage currently happening in central Massachusetts. Here's some culinary leaf-peeping for your gastronomic pleasure:
Leaf-Peeper Salad (for two)
1 head of green leaf lettuce
1/4 of a medium butternut squash, cooked and diced
1 medium pear, sliced
1/3 cup walnuts, toasted
1/4 cup poppyseed dressing
Not pictured are the squash seeds I baked up and sprinkled on top. These really made the dish.
This salad was SO delicious that I brought another batch of it to a party today!
This batch was accompanied with a simple balsamic vinaigrette instead of poppyseed. Making your own salad dressing is easy. It's a 3:1 ratio of oil:vinegar. I used Ariston balsamic vinegar and it was a rich, sweet dressing. I infused some freshly-picked herbs from my CSA. The dressing complimented the pears and butternut squash in an incredible way.
And what a great party it was!
Scenes from the last lake hurrah of 2010:
Question of the Day: Are you a year round salad eater or do you find enjoyment in salad eating exclusively during the summer months?
And the countdown continues! Less than seven days until the marathon!
Gorgeous photos! I feel like I just took a drive through New England. I'm not much of a lettuce eater...at salad bars, my salads are only salad veggies, no lettuce. I have nothing against lettuce, it just seems like a waste of space and tummy room!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures!
ReplyDeleteI am more of a summer salad person - the veggies are so much better and can really make a meal. In the winter, I feel like the veggies just aren't as fresh. Sadly...
when i used to get my food exclusively from a csa i barley ate salads in the winter. this is my first winter where i shop at a standard supermarket so we will see though i certainly have seen the deterioration of the spinach that makes up the base of my salad.
ReplyDeletebeautiful photos. miss new england way to much!
This salad sounds delicious! I just roasted the kabochka squash I got from my CSA and I'm going to see if I can cut it into chunks for a salad.
ReplyDeleteI eat salads year round. In the summer, I use fresh veggies, and in the winter, I switch to frozen. :-)
ReplyDeleteIn response to my blog post on Haub: I haven't heard any statement from the ADA regarding his research, but then again he's not a dietitian either, so maybe that's why?
That salad looks awesome & I LOVE your pictures of the sunset by the lake!
ReplyDeleteAs always your pictures are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how soon your marathon is!! That flew!!! I can't wait to read your recap!!
I will eat salad in the winter months but I agree that it's not the same. Tomatoes don't taste nearly as good, and since it's cold I usually don't have the desire. I tend to eat more roasted veggies in the winter.
Have a great pre-marathon week!! WOO HOO!!
That looks delicious! I'm not much of a bagged lettuce girl either, but I do eat a lot of bagged baby spinach. Get some good rest in before the marathon!! :)
ReplyDeleteSues
This salad looks amazing, I'm going to have to try it. And your lake shots and detail shots are gorgeous!
ReplyDelete