• Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Bakingdom

All you need is love. And dessert.

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Basic Recipes
  • Travel
  • Shop
  • Meet Darla
    • FAQ
    • Press
  • Contact

Cranberry Spinach Salad

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 by Darla

I have a short, sweet, and simple post for you today that pretty much speaks for itself. The hubster and I have been trying to spice up side dishes around here lately, because ours have gotten awfully boring and repetitive. One recipe that I’ve made a few times recently is an old one that I forgot about and dug out a couple of months ago. The recipe is for a cranberry spinach salad, and I have to be honest, I have no idea where it came from. I didn’t make it up, but it’s one of those recipes that makes the rounds and is good enough to keep around, especially if you tweak it to your tastes. Over time, I’ve adjusted and substituted and experimented with various things in this salad, but in the end, it’s just a simple mix of the same ingredients. This fresh spinach salad is garnished with cranberries and almonds, and tossed with a sweet and savory homemade dressing. Obviously, I strayed very far from baking, but technically, there’s some toasting involved here that takes place in the oven, so I’m gonna let it slide. ๐Ÿ˜‰ This is a quick, simple salad, that tastes much more impressive than you would expect for something so easy. There’s only a few ingredients, and you probably already have most of them around the kitchen. The almonds can be substituted for just about any other nut that you like, but this is especially good with pine nuts and walnuts. First up, spinach. I think fresh spinach is so beautiful…so vibrant and green. You’ll want to rinse the spinach thoroughly before using it. I also like to spread mine on paper towels and lightly pat any excess water away. Then I allow it to air dry for a few minutes while I make the dressing. The almonds (or other nuts) will be toasted before use, as well as the sesame seeds. Both the nuts and the seeds will be toasted at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. To keep my sesame seeds separate from the almonds, I make a small, square foil “bowl” to hold the sesame seeds. I place that on one end of a baking sheet, then I spread the almonds on the other end, and I’m able to toast them together. The dressing is incredibly simple to make. I have this dressing maker that makes it even simpler, but even if you don’t, you can easily shake this up in a mason jar, or just whisk it together in a small bowl. You’ll just combine olive oil, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar, sugar, the toasted sesame seeds, and a little paprika, then whisk or shake until the sugar is completely dissolved. For the salad, you’re going to toss the clean spinach with the toasted almonds, some fresh diced onion, and dried cranberries. Now pour all of the dressing over the salad and lightly toss to combine. This is such a fast, easy salad that is a nice departure from the plain old side salad, or bagged salads. It only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish, including the time it takes to toast the nuts and seeds. Everyone loves it and it’s very easy to double, making it large enough to be a meal, or serve to several guests. Enjoy! Spinach Salad Makes 4 side salads Ingredients FOR THE DRESSING 1/4 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons cider vinegar 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted (350 degrees for 10 minutes) full pinch paprika FOR THE SALAD 1/2 lb. (8 ounces) spinach, rinsed 1/2 cup fresh, finely diced onion 1/2 cup dried cranberries (I use Craisins) 1/3 cup blanched and slivered almonds (pine nuts or walnuts are also excellent), toasted (350 degrees for 10 minutes) After rinsing the spinach, pat lightly with clean paper towels to remove any excess water. Set aside to dry further while you make the dressing. To make the dressing: In a small bowl, or a jar/bottle with a tight lid, combine the oil, sugar, vinegars, sesame seeds, and paprika. Whisk or shake well, until thoroughly combined. To make the salad: Toss spinach, onion, cranberries, and almonds in a large bowl until combined. Drizzle all of the dressing over the top of the salad and toss gently to distribute it evenly throughout the salad. Recipe adapted by Darla

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Email
Leave a comment

Filed Under: Dinner, Recipes, Savory Tagged With: Almonds, Cranberries, Cranberry Spinach Salad, Recipes, Salad, Savory, Sesame Seeds, Side Salad, Spinach, Spinach Salad

« Semi-Homemade Donuts
Celebrating Harry Potter Day with my Favorite Craft of All Time: Handmade Harry Potter Apron »

Comments

  1. Caroline @ chocolate and carrots says

    Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 9:09 am

    Nothing like a colorful spring salad! ๐Ÿ˜€ Beautiful and vibrant. Yum!

  2. Raynata says

    Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 9:31 am

    I love cranberries on salads! It adds a nice little sweetness to the dish. I’ll have to try that dressing too!

  3. Lucy @ The Sweet Touch says

    Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 11:02 am

    I love that salads seem to taste good no matter what!

    I recently made a spinach salad with blue cheese crumbles, strawberries, blueberries and a balsamic reduction – so tasty!

  4. Melinda says

    Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Simple spinach salads like this are the best. My mom always makes one with cranberries, granny smith apples, cashews and a sweet celery seed dressing – it’s always gone immediately from every holiday dinner. This looks delicious.

Trackbacks

  1. An Italian Dinner Party | Party Tip Sheet says:
    Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 12:52 pm

    […] it. Il contorno ร‚ย A green salad of spinach or eggplant will go well with your main meal. Bakingdom Il dolce If your guests still have room for food, serve a tiramisu with espressos or cappuccinos. […]

welcome!
Baker.
Photographer.
Geek.
Read Moreโ€ฆ

Weight Conversions

Faves

Easy Irish Soda Bread

Friday, March 14, 2014

Donald Duck Tsum Tsum Cupcakes

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Happy Garland Cake

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Butterbeer?! Oh Yes, Friends! Butterbeer!!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Rainbow-filled Chocolate Icebox Cookies

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Archives

Instagram

bakingdom

The best good boy that ever lived. ๐Ÿค My brain i The best good boy that ever lived. ๐Ÿค My brain is struggling to comprehend how itโ€™s been almost two years without him. It feels like a flash in time and an eternity, simultaneously. #LittleMightyLoki
Twentieth New Yearโ€™s Eve together and he still m Twentieth New Yearโ€™s Eve together and he still makes me laugh til I cry {swipe}.
๐Ÿ˜‚
Iโ€™m ready for new adventures, new memories, more kindness, and lots of healing in 2021. Among so many things I want for you, Iโ€™m especially wishing you belly laughs, abundant pleasure, endless excitement, and great food in the new year. Cheers and  happy New Year, my friends!
I always knew that I would be bounding as Olaf tod I always knew that I would be bounding as Olaf today because he is the epitome of a happy character. But itโ€™s not just Olaf...Iโ€™m also bounding today as @joshgad, in a roundabout way, because Josh has brought so much joy and compassion to people. Yes, with his portrayal of Olaf (and so many other characters), but also, and mainly, as himself. Heโ€™s such a joyful and kind person, it has been a pleasure laughing and crying along with him, and Olaf, this year. Thank you, sir, for making my 2020 more magical and joyful than it would have been without you!
โ„๏ธ
Today is the last day of dressemberbound! Thank you to everyone who helped me meet my goal, and helped our team achieve TWICE our original goal!! Please visit the blue link on my profile to see my @dressember funraising page and to make a donation. ๐Ÿ’— You can also click through to visit my dressemberbound group to see all of the great people who are participating in this funraiser. ๐Ÿ’œ
Iโ€™m so excited to get to share a fellow bounder Iโ€™m so excited to get to share a fellow bounder today for #dressemberbound! It was really, really hard to narrow it down to one because everyone is SO talented and SO fun, but I had to share @rogue_princess_ today because every bound she does brings a smile to face and fills me with joy!
๐Ÿ’›
Iโ€™d also like to take a moment to share our fearless team leaders: @shebounds and @libraryladylife. Theyโ€™re both so creative and theyโ€™ve been so encouraging throughout the whole month. 
โค๏ธ
Weโ€™ve been wearing dresses every day in December to help raise awareness and funds to fight human trafficking. Please visit the blue link in my profile to see my @dressember FUNdraising page and to make a donation. ๐Ÿ’— You can also click through to visit my dressemberbound group to see all of the great people who are participating in this funraiser. ๐Ÿ’œ
You can do anything in a dress, even slay a dragon You can do anything in a dress, even slay a dragon!
๐Ÿ—ก
Pick a prince, any prince! Heโ€™s not my favorite, but Prince Phillip sure is dashing.
๐Ÿ›ก
Today is the perfect day to make a big impact with @dressember in the fight against human trafficking! There is a donation match running today, with matches up to $84,000!!! Please visit the blue link in my profile to see my @dressember FUNdraising page and to make a donation. ๐Ÿ’— You can also click through to visit my dressemberbound group to see all of the great people who are participating in this funraiser. ๐Ÿ’œ
โ€œIโ€™m practically perfect in every way.โ€ -Mar โ€œIโ€™m practically perfect in every way.โ€ -Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers
๐Ÿช 
Although, truth be told, Iโ€™m much more like Michael and Jane... noisy, mischievous, and short-tempered. ๐Ÿ˜… Or stubborn, suspicious, and inclined to giggle, if you want to use the movie for reference. 
๐ŸŒ‚ 
Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to my FUNdraiser! Iโ€™m wearing dresses every day in December to help raise awareness and funds to fight human trafficking. There will be donation matching beginning Tuesday, if youโ€™ve been waiting for the right time to make a bigger impact! Please visit the blue link in my profile to see my @dressember FUNdraising page and to make a donation. ๐Ÿ’— You can also click through to visit my dressemberbound group to see all of the great people who are participating in this funraiser. ๐Ÿ’œ
โ€œIf you are what you eat, then I only want to ea โ€œIf you are what you eat, then I only want to eat the good stuff.โ€ -Remy
๐Ÿง€
โ€œGood food is like music you can taste, color you can smell. There is excellence all around you. You need only be aware to stop and savor it.โ€ - Chef Gusteau
๐Ÿฅ˜
I couldnโ€™t pick just a Remy quote for today because the one by Chef Gusteau is one of my favorites from any movie. I think itโ€™s clear from several of my other bounds this month that food is one of my love languages, and Remy and Gusteau totally get it.
๐Ÿฅ
Please visit the blue link on my profile to see my @dressember funraising page and to make a donation. ๐Ÿ’— You can also click through to visit my dressemberbound group to see all of the great people who are participating in this funraiser. ๐Ÿ’œ
I do not know whether to kill you, or to kiss you. I do not know whether to kill you, or to kiss you.
๐Ÿ•ท๐Ÿ˜˜
Miss Spider, James and the Giant Peach
๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ•ธ 
Iโ€™m wearing dresses every day in December to help raise awareness and funds to fight human trafficking. Please visit the blue link in my profile to see my @dressember FUNdraising page and to make a donation. ๐Ÿ’— You can also click through to visit my dressemberbound group to see all of the great people who are participating in this funraiser. ๐Ÿ’œ
And I am here for the food. ๐ŸŽ Rizzo the Rat is And I am here for the food.
๐ŸŽ
Rizzo the Rat is the best part of The Muppet Christmas Carol and when he kisses Gonzoโ€™s nose over the jellybeans, I lose it every time. ๐Ÿ˜ And to top it all off, heโ€™s a Gryffindor. ๐Ÿ˜˜
๐ŸŽ„
Merry Christmas to those celebrating today! Happy holidays to those celebrating their special days this season! Love you guys like Rizzo loves food.
โค๏ธ
Iโ€™m wearing dresses every day in December to help raise awareness and funds to fight human trafficking. I will be making donation matches to any contribution made by Christmas Day, up to a total of $75. Please visit the blue link in my profile to see my @dressember FUNdraising page and to make a donation. ๐Ÿ’— You can also click through to visit my dressemberbound group to see all of the great people who are participating in this funraiser. ๐Ÿ’œ
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright

Creative Commons License
Bakingdom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. All writing, photography, original recipes, and printables are copyright © 2010-2017 Bakingdom, Darla Wireman. All Rights Reserved. Endorsement Disclosure: Purchases made through Amazon Affiliate links on this blog yield a small referral fee. For more information, click here.

Queenie’s Apple Strudel Dumplings

Happy Happy Narwhal Cake

Prickly Pair Valentine Cake

Perfect Chocolate Cupcakes with Perfect Chocolate Buttercream

Happy 7th Birthday, Bakingdom!

A Life Update and An Announcement

Follow on Facebook!

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • Copyright © Bakingdom. Design & Development by Melissa Rose Design