a winter salad with orange-date dressing.

Technically while detoxing, you are not supposed to eat oranges, but right now they are in season & so delicious. It is hard to pass up fruits that are in season, so I went a head with this salad & AMAZING dressing. This salad reminds a bit of a salad my mum used to make when we were growing up. It has mandarin oranges & almonds...so I guess this is my interpretation. This was great as a light lunch, but would be great next to maple mustard salmon or roasted chicken.

The weather in the Western Maine mountains has been so lovely this week, sunny & brisk. It has been really nice to get back into a routine of walking with the dogs through the woods & along the river.

a winter salad with orange-date dressing. 
serves 4 for a side or light lunch

4 cups of greens (baby romaine, spinach, kale, etc.), roughly chopped
1/2 cup sweet onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup sunflower seeds, toasted
2 oranges, peeled & segmented (preserving the juice for the dressing)
sea salt & cracked pepper
orange-date dressing*

1. Toss greens, onions, seeds, orange & seasoning in a serving bowl.
2. Add half of the dressing & toss together. Serve on individual plates & serve with a side of the dressing.

orange-date dressing.*
makes about 1 cup

juice of 2 oranges
juice of 1 lemon
1 TBL rice vinegar
5-6 dates, pitted & halved
1/3 cup grapeseed oil
sea salt & cracked pepper

1. Add juices, vinegar, dates & seasoning into a food processor or blender. Blitz until the dates are finely chopped, & with the motor running slowly add olive oil (unless your using a blender, turn it off, add the oil & turn back on).
2. Pour into a jar, bowl or individual small cups for serving.

happy eatings & cheers!