As May approaches and spring is in full force, I’m finding excuses to walk everywhere, lugging my camera in tote. I have a blister and sore right shoulder to prove it! Tulips, daffodils, and cherry blossoms are in bloom, tiny green leaves sprout, I’m sneezing like crazy, and our car is a lovely shade of bird poop.
Here are a few of my favourite shots that I took over the past week.
In addition to going on lots of walks, salads also returned to my life after a somewhat rocky and distant relationship over the winter. All I can say is thank goodness for Green Monsters or my body might not have seen a leafy green from November ‘til March!
I’m finally craving things that look as pretty as it is outside.
This dressing is inspired by my Strawberry Cherry Basil Smoothie, after falling in love with the flavour combination last year. Into the processor went fresh strawberries and basil, along with fresh lemon juice, a touch of olive oil, pure maple syrup, fine grain sea salt, & black pepper. It’s healthy and light, yet creamy and indulgent tasting. Definitely my new go-to dressing!
I just spooned it into my mouth over and over while I questioned if making a salad was even necessary. Luckily, the salad took only a few minutes to throw together and I was rewarded with one of my favourite dishes of the season. I can’t think of a better way to welcome May, other than perhaps being surprised with a car wash…
Featuring all new, protein-packed salads, hearty toppers, flavour boosters, and dressings you'll want to drink, my new cookbook will transform the way you think about salads. Oh, and be sure to flip to the back for a surprise dessert chapter!
Spring Salad with Strawberry Lemon Basil Dressing
Yield
2/3 cup dressing
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
Ingredients
For the dressing
- 1 cup fresh strawberries
- 1/4 cup packed fresh basil
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1-2 tsp pure maple syrup, to taste
- fine grain sea salt & black pepper, to taste (I used 1/4 tsp each)
For the salad
- Slivered almonds, toasted
- shredded unsweetened coconut, toasted
- mixed greens
- strawberries, chopped
- chiffonade fresh basil
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 300F. Toast the almonds for about 7-8 minutes and then remove and add the coconut. Toast another 2-4 minutes, or until lightly golden, watching closely so the coconut doesn’t burn.
- In a food processor, add the strawberries, basil, lemon juice, and oil. Process until smooth. Add in the salt, pepper, and maple syrup to taste and process again.
- Assemble the salad as desired. Leftover dressing should keep for at least a few days in a sealed container.
Congrats again to Jenny B. for winning the cookbook giveaway!
That looks amazing! Need to incorporate more strawberries in my life =)
yey! looove new dressing ideas- plain old french vinaigrette is getting old ;-)
This salad looks great! Loving the new banner, too.
Thank you! I’m still on the fence with the banner…but maybe it will grow on me. :)
Keep it! Keep it! It’s so gorgeous!
Yes!
it’s really awesome Angela! I have been excited about it since Friday and it exceeds expectation :) though I like them all!
Yum, this looks delicious! Definitely be giving this dressing a go, thanks for sharing!
Can’t wait to try the dressing, sounds soo yummy. Dressing makes the salad for me- if it isn’t good I have a hard time eating it.
Bird poop is always such a lovely shade this time of year, so is pollen, lol.
I can’t get over those fuzzy goose butts!! Soooo cute!
Don’t they just make your heart melt? I wish I could snuggle a handful of them.
Wow. This looks like the perfect spring salad! Yummmm!
That dressing is so unique, but it sounds fantastic!!
OMG Angela your header is worth a 1000 words, it is so cute and it represents your personality and blog so much! I love it, by the way great salad too, so refreshing and summery!!
Thanks Catalina! It was quite the process making it. I’m still not sure if I like it enough to keep it, but I’ll have to see if it grows on me!
Looks like this will be my dinner this evening! Yummm!
LOVE the header. Also, your photos are breathtaking! What kind of camera do you use?
Thank you Shay. My camera info is located on my FAQ page at the top of the blog.
This salad screams SPRING/SUMMER! And I can nearly taste the strawberries. Thanks for the beautiful inspiration.
That dressing sounds absolutely delicious! Anything with strawberries AND basil sounds like a match made in heaven to me! I will have to give it a try on my next salad.
Great looking salad and dressing idea. Love using strawberries in salads. Such an unexpected little pop!
And what great nature and animal shots. I swear that squirrel is just posing for you…love it :)
Beautiful pictures!
Love the weather now, just perfect!
Beautiful new banner Miss Angela!
Loving the spring salad and the little sweet nature shots ~ makes me want to go out for a walk right now! xo
Strawberries and salad are a great spring combo! I would think that kiwis might be a good add-in as well. I love strawberries and kiwis together! :-)
that’s a great idea :)
Beautiful photography! But I think the dressing might be the prettiest, most decadent part of today’s post!
Aw, love the photo of the three little ducklings!!
This salad sounds so refreshing! I love making strawberry purees, but I tend to use them as pancake syrups. How nice to have a salad with the lemon!