It's Back to School Time!!!

Mandarin Pasta Spinach Salad with Teriyaki Dressing

 

Prep time

15 mins

Total time

15 mins

 

This salad is easy, quick, healthy, and tossed in the most addictive teriyaki vinaigrette dressing!

Author: Tiffany

Recipe type: Side Dish

Serves: 4

 

Ingredients

• 8 ounces bowtie pasta noodles
• 4 cups spinach leaves
• ½ cup craisins
• ⅓ cup cashews or Diamond of California Pine Nuts
• 1 4-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained
• ¼ cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped

dressing

• ⅓ cup teriyaki sauce (the thicker, the better!)
• ⅓ cup rice wine vinegar (may sub apple cider vinegar)
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder (if you have it)
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ½ cup oil (such as vegetable oil, canola oil, olive oil)

  

  Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions, drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside.
2. While pasta is boiling, prepare the dressing. In a jar combine all dressing ingredients. Cover and shake to combine. Chill until ready to use.
3. In a large bowl toss together pasta, spinach, raisins, nuts, mandarin oranges, and cilantro. Just before serving pour dressing over salad, toss, and serve.

If you find yourself around the Sidney, Nebraska area.... or just want a great shopping excursion; let me tell you about my two favorite shops (both have FB pages too). French Door Antique Mall is on 10th Avenue and Mary Jo Putman has some GREAT things in her store - I am never disappointed. Tonia from The Heirloom Market has a space in there (she was a vendor this year at Burlap and Lace) and sells Miss Mustard Seed milk paint. Mary Jo is open during the week from 11:00-6:00, also Saturday hours too. Then make a stop over at Rusty Bucket Antiques and check out Lisa's shop. Lisa is open from 4:00-7:30pm, Tuesday through Friday (I don't know her hours on Saturday) Lisa has some fantastic classes in her shop too; if you check out the Facebook page you can see what is offered.  

 

  Erin



let your soul be free

We hope your summer is going great!!!!

It's 5:00 somewhere....

Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade

 

 

 

 

 

PREP TIME      30 mins

TOTAL TIME   30 mins

 

YIELD: Serves 4-5

 

 

INGREDIENTS

For the Blackberry Simple Syrup:

• 12 ounces fresh blackberries
• ½ cup sugar

For the Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade:

• 7.5 ounces whiskey
• 7.5 ounces lemon juice
• 1 large rosemary sprig
• 6 ounces blackberry simple syrup

INSTRUCTIONS

For the Blackberry Simple Syrup:

1. Put the blackberries and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat.
2. Cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until blackberries have softened and you have a thick syrup.
3. Strain syrup through a mesh sieve to separate any seeds or lumps from the syrup. You can discard the leftover pulp, although I like to freeze it in ice cube trays and pop a cube or two in smoothies.
4. Let syrup cool on the counter for 20 minutes or so before you make the drinks.

For the Blackberry Whiskey Lemonade

1. Combine all ingredients in a large shaker and add a handful or two of ice cubes. Depending on the size of your shaker, you may have to shake the drinks in two batches.
2. Shake to combine and chill drinks.
3. Pour over ice into glasses and serve.

NOTES

Lighten the drinks up a bit (and stretch them to serve more people!) by topping each drink off with a splash of tonic water or sparkling wine.