Summer is here…and if you are like my family you don’t like to spend tons of time in the kitchen preparing meals, but you DO want everyone to THINK you did! This little salad is just what you need for a WOWZA refreshing salad and it really impresses everyone with its taste. But guess what? It will only take you MINUTES to prepare and there really isn’t even a recipe for it! Just throw in a little of this, and a little of that and SHAZAM! Try it…I promise it will be a huge success.
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SUMMER SALAD WITH BALSAMIC REDUCTION AND SUGARED WALNUTS
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To prepare the walnuts:
1 1/2 cups shelled and halved walnuts
2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup sugar
dash salt
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In a small saucepan add your ingredients. Stir over medium heat until your butter is melted and bubbling. Keep stirring until the sugar has coated the walnuts and is turning a dark golden brown. Be careful…the sugar will go from a beautiful brown to black in one second. Remove from heat and pour everything onto a great big sheet of waxed paper. Please be very careful and don’t let any little children or doggies be near you during this part…that sugar is scalding hot and will peel the skin right off you if you get a drop on your skin!!!!! Let the walnuts cool on the waxed paper for about 15 minutes, until they are hard, and then break them apart into pieces. Save any extras in a covered plastic container…or just eat them and don’t worry about it. 🙂
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Salad part:
Watermelon, cut in pieces
Cantaloupe, cut in pieces
Honeydew Melon, cut in pieces
Strawberries, cut in pieces
Blackberries
Black Mission Figs, cut in pieces
Cucumber, cut in pieces
Chevre (Goat Cheese, use the kind from France!) crumbled into pieces
Premium Balsamic Reduction (I use the Alessi brand…use the REDUCTION, the thicker variety…not the thin oil)
Mint Leaves, cut in thin slices
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Cut your fruit into pieces and mix in a large bowl. Spoon onto serving plates. Sprinkle each serving with a bit of chevre cheese, drizzle with the balsamic reduction and add some slivered mint leaves. Top each salad with your prepared sugared walnuts. VOILA!!!
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Bone appetit!
