In just over a week we’re jumping on a plane and heading to Disney – yay!! And yes, we were just there in December, but this time we’re going down not only to enjoy the parks, but also to attend a food blogging conference. It’ll be my first one ever, and I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t wait to finally meet so many of my blogging friends!
If our trip to Disney in December was any indication, there will be a whole lot of delicious food consumed while we’re there next week. We had a few of our favorite meals ever on our last trip, we’re still talking about them 5 months later. Silly me, I thought the miles and miles we walked around the parks would counterbalance all the food we ate but, yeah, not so much… Yoga pants were my friend for the plane ride home π
So part of me feels like I should be eating salads morning, noon and night this week in preparation for the decadence that I know is coming. I haven’t been though because, as I’ve mentioned, I don’t like making salads at home. In fact, one of the only times I do actually put in the effort to make them is when we have company over. I served this spinach salad with strawberry champagne vinaigrette for our early Mother’s Day celebration this past weekend. It’s fresh, colorful and just perfect for spring! I’ve never made a dressing like this vinaigrette but I just loved it. Sweet from the berries, tangy from the vinegar and with just a little effervescence from the bubbly champagne. The original recipe included goat cheese on the salads as well, and if you’re a fan, I think that would be nice here too.
This salad would be a great addition to any Mother’s Day brunch! And just think, after you make the vinaigrette, you can use the leftover champagne to make mimosas π
Spinach Salad with Strawberry Champagne Vinaigrette
barely adapted from Annie’s Eats (originally adapted from Epicurious)
{Note: I haven’t tried it, but Annie mentioned white wine works well as a substitute for the champagne.}
Dressing
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons champagne
1 tablespoon sugar
pinch of salt
Salad
Baby spinach leaves, rinsed and dried
Toasted and sliced almonds
Sliced fresh strawberries
Add the strawberries, cider vinegar, champagne, sugar, and salt to the bowl of a mini food processor (or your blender). Puree until the ingredients are well combined and smooth. In a blender or food processor, combine the strawberries, vinegar, champagne, sugar and salt. Process until the mixture is well combined and completely smooth. Transfer to an airtight bottle or container and refrigerate until ready to use.
To prepare the salads: Divide the baby spinach leaves among the serving bowls, then top with the almonds and strawberries. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salads.
We could all go for a little salad this weekend! Bikini season! Ahh! π
I hope y’all have fun at Disney.
Disney sounds so fun!! Hope the conference is awesome!!
Love this dressing and I will eat anything with sweet strawberries in it!
Tracey I need to know your food recommendations for Disney! It’s been years and I’m clueless π
I also rarely make salads at home, but this one may be the exception- I LOVE fruit in salads and this looks amazing!
That is so exciting, Congrats and have fun at the conference! This spinach salad just so perfect this summer. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Disney?! WOO HOO!! So fun!! I love this dressing, friend! Champagne?! I’m in!
I adore this vinaigrette! Can’t wait to hear all about your time at Disney!!! (And yoga pants are ALWAYS a good idea on the way home from vacations!) π
Have fun! This is a terrific low calorie dressing. Perfect for spring.
Love, love, love adding strawberries to salad, but have never tried them in a vinaigrette! Can’t wait to taste this!
Delicious! I love fresh, simple, healthy salads like this. And per usual, your pics are spectacular. Have an awesome time in Disney – so sad I can’t join this year!
Yes, yoga pants on vacation are a Must!
This is such a lush, happy-looking salad! (Maybe it’s the champagne.) π
This salad is beautiful, Tracey! I love spinach salads but never think to use champagne vinaigrette! Have fun on vacation!!
Have fun!! I’m still mad I didn’t go to the one in Nashville, and I have yet to attend any food conferences. I really need to eat salads like this more often. Especially if I’m going to be on a beach at the end of the month!
Jealous! I can’t wait until my kids are old enough to appreciate Disneyworld! I can’t wait to hear all about it!
And now I totally want a salad!
I don’t usually make salads at home either but I know my mom would love this so it’s totally worth the effort. She is big into salads, especially those with fruit in them!
The salad looks so good – we had one similar on the menu at a restaurant where I worked it was a huge favorite. And have fun at the conference – so nice to get together with other bloggers!
What a lovely, light salad!
That champagne vinaigrette sounds amazing!
How fun! That’s so exciting to go to Disney AND and a blogging conference. There are so many other bloggers I’d love to meet in real life.
I love this salad. It’s so pretty!
I can’t wait to meet you!!! It is going to be a great weekend!
I just had a salad for lunch in anticipation of the food to be consumed next weekend π This dressing sounds delicious!
I love a spinach salad with strawberries. I have never added champagne but it sounds like a great idea.
Your first ever food blogging conference? Aah! So excited for you! BlogHer will be my first and I’m out of this world excited for it. π Have lots of fun! I can’t wait to read about it!
And I wish I liked salad. Or veggies, in general. This looks delightful. π
Simply yum. I definitely gonna try this and put a version of mine in my blog. And surely will link to your post mentioning my inspiration! Keep up the good work!
Yum! This salad looks wonderful, I can’t wait to try this dressing π
A) Your pictures are so beautiful! B) Again, Im so bummed Im not going, I’ve never been to a conference either, and now I really regret not signing up! I wish there was still a chance! lol C) I don’t make a ton of salads at home either, I feel like they never taste as good, but Ive been really trying to lately!