Summer Salad

During the summer, my husband and I love to have big salads for dinner. We tend to keep it simple, using a few select, but very fresh ingredients. Tomatoes are a favorite at this time of year. A salad is enough for the two of us, but if it's not enough for you, I suggest getting a fresh whole grain bread from your favorite bakery and perhaps a nice cheese or hummus to spread on top.

We make our own dressing at home, as we have found it to be much more budget and health-friendly than many store-bought dressings. It is a great way to save money on your weekly grocery shopping. The process of making your own dressing is very quick and easy, and we usually have the ingredients at home for other reasons anyway. An added bonus is that you avoid all of the preservatives and additives (including high amounts of sodium) that can be found in many pre-made dressings.

Dressing:

2 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 tbs. balsamic vinegar
1-2 tbs. mustard, depending on your preferences
Salt and pepper to taste

Whisk the balsamic vinegar and mustard until blended. Add the olive oil and whisk until incorporated. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Salad:

Mixed salad greens, a large bunch (we like to mix spinach and arugula, for instance)
A large handful of ripe tomatoes, chopped as you like
1 can beans (cannellini or garbanzo work great)
~2.5 oz goat cheese

Pour dressing into your salad bowl. Add the tomatoes and beans, mixing with the dressing. Chop the salad greens, before adding to the bowl. Mix with dressing and other ingredients. Finally, break the goat cheese down into chunks and add to the salad. At this point, you can choose to mix gently, creaming the cheese slightly, or just serve with the cheese on top.

Serve with a bright red or summer rose wine.