Let Them Eat Salad
Because the Quilting Through the Seasons Ladder Quilt celebrates all four seasons with a variety of interchangeable elements (Dare I say, "ingredients?" 😀), I thought it would be fun to share salad recipes for every season. (After all, a machine embroidery enthusiast has to keep their strength up! Nutrition is key!)
The Kimberbell team was happy to share their favorite salad recipes with me, which I'm now passing along to you. Enjoy! (BTW, if you make one of these salads, please drop a comment below to tell me how you liked it!)
Spring: Ginger's Bow Tie Pasta Salad 🍇
Ginger has brought this tasty pasta salad to many a Kimberbell potluck and I always go back for seconds. . .and thirds . . .and sometimes even fourths. It's light and delicious and perfect for any gathering!
Salad Ingredients
- 1 bag bowtie pasta, cooked & drained
- 1 lb. bacon, cooked & crumbled
- 8 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded
- 1 bunch green onions, diced
- Dried cranberries
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 1 cup mayo
- ½ cup sugar
Instructions
- Mix the salad ingredients together.
- Mix the dressing ingredients together.
- Mix the dressing into the salad.
- Eat and ENJOY!
Summer: Camilla's Strawberry Spinach Salad 🍓
I could eat this salad all day. It's light, it's sweet, and the tang from the onion gives it just the right kick! There's nothing more refreshing on a summer day than this salad right here.
Salad Ingredients
- 6 cups spinach leaves
- 3 cups sliced strawberries
- 1/3 cup thinly-sliced red onion
- 2/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2/3 cup slivered almonds
Dressing Ingredients
*Note: You can also just buy your favorite poppy seed dressing from the store, if you have a brand you like!
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey, poppy seeds and minced garlic.
- While whisking, drizzle the olive oil and continue whisking until emulsified.
- Season the dressing with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine spinach, strawberries, and red onion.
- Add dressing and toss to combine.
- Top salad with crumbled feta and slivered almonds.
Fall: Erin's Apple Salad 🍎
As opposed to the other two salads, I'd never tried this apple salad of Erin's until she shared the recipe with me. I made it and promptly inhaled it . . .it is so, SO good and perfect for fall with all those crunchy apples!
Salad Ingredients
- 10 oz. spring lettuce mix (with spinach)
- 3 medium gala apples, cored and thinly chopped
- 1 cup pecans, chopped (it's extra good if you toast them first)
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 12 oz. bacon, cooked and chopped
- 1/2 small red onion, sliced thinly
Vinaigrette Ingredients
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp. dijon mustard
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly-ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix all dressing ingredients in a bowl until well blended.
- In a large salad bowl, layer the lettuce, apples, pecans, feta, cranberries, bacon, and onion.
- Drizzle dressing over the salad and toss evenly to coat.
- Serve immediately after the dressing is mixed in!
Darren's "Big Mac" Salad 🍔
Our IT guy, Darren, loves eating this salad year-round at a local restaurant. I chose it as our "winter" salad because I thought it the perfect way to bring a summer BBQ indoors when the weather is cold!
Salad Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/2 cup finely diced onions
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup finely diced dill pickles
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely diced sweet onion
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together and refrigerate while you're making the rest of the salad.
- Cook the ground beef in a large, nonstick skillet until no pink remains. Drain the fat and break into tiny crumbles.
- Divide the lettuce between four salad bowls (about 1 1/2 cups each). Top with 1/3 cup beef, cheddar cheese, diced onion, and pickles.
- Drizzle 3 Tbsp. dressing over each salad.
Tip: If you'd like, you can garnish this salad with toasted sesame seeds!
Like our interactive Quilting Through the Seasons Ladder Quilt (shown below), you can easily switch up the elements of these salads. Do you like bleu cheese better than feta? Spinach better than spring mix? Have fun playing with the ingredients, just like you'll have fun playing with the individual pieces of your quilt!
Whether in the sewing room OR the kitchen, I hope you Experience the Joy of Creativity® all year long with Kimberbell.
