Pacific Northwest Strawberry Goat Cheese Pine Nut Salad Food

STRAWBERRY NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Day (or about six hours) before:.
• In large saucepan, combine jello with boiling water, stirring until dissolved. Fold in strawberries with juice, drained pineapple, bananas and nuts.
• Pour 1/2 of mixture into 13x9" baking dish for 1st layer. Refrigerate until firm (about 90 minutes).
• Spread top evenly with sour cream. Gently spoon on rest of strawberry mixture and refrigerate. For best results, keep refrigerated until serving.
• When I was shopping for the ingredients for this dish I realized that you could probably use other combos of fruit and jello flavors - I think I'll experiment next time. It could also be made to fit any diet by using artificially sweetened fruit and low fat sour cream.

FENNEL SALAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Whisk together the oil, vinegar and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Combine the arugula and sliced fennel in a medium salad bowl. Pour the vinaigrette over and toss to thoroughly coat. Season with salt and pepper. Scatter the fennel fronds, cheese and pine nuts on top and serve.

ASPARAGUS, HALLOUMI AND PINE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Snap the stems off the asparagus so that you are left with the green, edible parts.
• Drop the asparagus into boiling water for about 4 minutes, until al dente.
• Drain and refresh under cold water.
• Set the asparagus aside to drip dry.
• Unwrap the halloumi and pat it dry.
• Slice it into eight slices and press it into the seasoned flour to coat.
• Put the olive oil in a pan to heat and when it is hot, slide in the halloumi cheese slices.
• Cook for a minute per side, until a golden colour.
• Mix up the olive oil, parsley and lemon juice.
• Serve the asparagus with the warm halloumi and the dressing drizzled over the top.
• Scatter the pine nuts over the plate.
• Dressing: Mix up the olive oil, parsley and lemon juice.

WATERMELON, ARUGULA AND PINE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together lemon juice, vinegar and salt in a large bowl, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified.
• Add watermelon, arugula, and pine nuts and toss to coat, then sprinkle with cheese and pepper.

JAMIE OLIVER'S AVOCADO, PANCETTA & PINE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Heat a frying pan and fry the pancetta until crispy.
• Remove from the pan and set aside.
• In the same pan, lightly toast the pine nuts. (This happens quickly, don't abandon them.).
• Make your dressing by combining 1 tbsp olive oil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Taste to make sure your dressing is balanced; add a little more oil or vinegar if needed.
• On serving plates, lay out the avocado.
• Sprinkle over the spinach leaves, pancetta and pine nuts.
• Season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST SALAD

Steps:

• In small bowl, whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients. Can be made up to 3 days ahead.
• Cut 2 of the pears ito 1/2" pieces. Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add chopped pears; sprinkle with 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/8 tsp salt. Cook 4-6 minutes or until golden brown and softened. Recipe can be made to this point up to 4 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Place cooked pears in center of 8 salad plates. In large bowl, toss salad mix with vinaigrette. Place on top of pears; sprinkle with cheese and nuts. Slice remaining 2 pears; arrange over greeens.

CABBAGE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Cut the cabbage into thin strips.
• Fry the pine nuts, almond slivers and sesame seeds in a small amount of olive oil until toasted (careful not to burn).
• You can vary the amounts of nuts to your own tastes.
• Mix cabbage and nuts together in a large bowl.
• Mix olive oil, soy sauce and sugar in a small bowl.
• Microwave for 1 minute to heat.
• Stir to dissolve sugar.
• Pour the sauce over the cabbage and nuts and toss well.
• Let the salad marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.

PACIFIC NORTHWEST STRAWBERRY, GOAT CHEESE & PINE NUT SALAD

Steps:

• Combine orange juice, oil, mustard and seasonings in the bottom of a large salad bowl. Whisk to blend.
• Top with salad greens, endive, strawberries, pine nuts and crumbled goats cheese.
• Toss and serve.