Strawberry Arugula Salad

If you're a resident of the Syracuse area and a fan of Fleet Feet Sports, you may have seen this recipe already.  I actually just began writing for their Nutrition Blog as well, but I thought this recipe was too great not to share again and it's perfect to make from local seasonal ingredients.  I found this one from The Taste of Home website, so this one's not my own, but the info is listed below so you can find more of their great recipes.

We've been thoroughly enjoying the arugula growing in our garden for the past few weeks.  We've been using it for salads of course and sandwiches, but I thought this recipe was great because it pairs something else that's in season right now in Upstate New York, strawberries.  The flavor combination is really delicious because there is nothing like the taste of a freshly picked strawberry and it compliments the great peppery flavor of the arugula very nicely.  This is also a great recipe to try any weeknight because it's quick and easy and perfect for when the temperature begins to soar.

Strawberry Arugula Salad
From: The Taste of Home

Ingredients

            2 cups torn fresh arugula or baby spinach

            3/4 cup quartered fresh strawberries

            1/4 cup slivered almonds

            1/4 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

            2 tablespoons chopped red onion

            2 tablespoons olive oil

            1 tablespoon thawed orange juice concentrate

            1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

            1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel

            1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

            In a salad bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, orange juice concentrate, vinegar, orange peel and ginger. Pour over salad; toss gently to coat. Yield: 2 servings.

Nutritional Facts

1-1/4 cups equals 295 calories, 25 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 13 mg cholesterol, 199 mg sodium, 14 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 7 g protein.  Nutrient information is based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet.

Serve as a side dish or as a main course topped with grilled chicken or a mild fish.

Reference:

The Taste of Home.  http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Strawberry-Arugula-Salad. Accessed 6/22/12.

Explore a new local market

It's summer and it's time to go on vacation!  While you're away this summer, try to get out and explore what kind of food the area has to offer.  No matter where you're traveling, there's sure to be a special product to find at a local market.  While you're visiting these local markets, be sure to get some tips from the vendors or growers if you can on ways to prepare the food you're buying.  You'll be able to pick up some great advice or new recipes from those who are really familiar with the food.  This is something you should always try at you're own local farmer's market to get some insight from the people who know the food the best, the farmers!

This weekend, I traveled to the Finger Lakes and visited one of my favorite little gems in the town of Naples, NY.  Joseph's Wayside Market is a small market on the main street running through Naples that sells everything from locally grown produce, beautiful annual flowers, a wide variety of fruit, vegetable, and herb plants, and a vast array of locally made bakery products, jellies, jams, sauces, and other Finger Lakes products.

There's so much the Finger Lakes area has to offer, it's impossible to explore it all in a weekend.  I'll continue to enjoy my new local food discoveries throughout the summer and I encourage everyone to find something local and delicious in your favorite vacation spot!