Blog POP! Strawberry Fields Salad Recipe + Dexas Housewares Giveaway 4/13

I received product from Dexas International for the purpose of this feature, regardless all opinions are genuine. All photos contained below are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2015.

Momma Told Me: Fresh is seldom easy.

Spring is finally here; while the 90 degree weather hit us in SoCal several weeks back, we've also been having several unusual overcast days. I don't mind so much, while they make photography a pain, they help the crops around us grow, and everyone knows California could use a few sprinkles as of late!

Speaking of crops, my hometown is not only known for it's national production of produce, but for being the host of the largest annual Strawberry Festival. In high school I would walk along the fields of rich greens and red berries to get to our campus. Today, on the other side of the train tracks, a sea of fields stretches as far as the eye can see, until it is at last broken up by the sight of blue skies and protruding mountains. Not only can we enjoy the biggest berries and freshest product, but we can often take it home the same day it is harvested from the field.

So, you can imagine there will be plenty of delicious salads on our table this season as we entertain, or simply enjoy an afternoon together. One of the biggest reasons we don't enjoy fresh salads more often is the lack of convenience in preparing them. I was recently excited to discover some new Dexas International tools and kitchen gadgets that have made it easier than ever to get fresh fruits and vegetables on the table in record time with minimal cleanup. The Turbo Fan Collapsible Salad Spinner not only saves space when not in use, but expands to efficiently rinse and dry up to 4.5 quarts of fresh greens in seconds.

The soft cushioned Dexas Scraper handle is easy to grip and made with the same versatile poly materials as my favorite Gripboard cutting boards. Not only are these stain and odor resistant, but they are impressively easy to clean, even when slicing the strawberries for my favorite Strawberry Fields Salad. The subtle raised edges and gentle grips also keep these boards from sliding during preparation, and help trap juices and liquids, preventing them from staining counters or making messes on other surfaces.

Jay was really excited to text out the new 5qt Salad bowl with KlipKup 8oz attachable bowl accessory. I rarely get any interest in new kitchenware so I knew the Dexas Salad Bowl when he quite literally remarked, "This is a great bowl, where'd you get it?" I'll admit, bowls aren't at the top of my kitchen thrills so I pressed him a little further as to just what he loved about 'this' bowl, and he was quick to note the easy to grip handles and non skid base. I'm always getting on him to put a trivet or towel underneath our plates and bowls as to not scratch the dining table, so this was one problem solved- and the bowl did prove impressively easy to transport, even whe

Personally, I'm a fan of the small innovations that make life simpler- the KlipKup quickly tickled my inner hostess. It's generous 8oz capacity is perfect for chip dips, salsas, salad toppings, dressings, and more. I'd love to see it bundled with a small serving set of matching mini tongs and a serving ladle! My stainless steel spoon got some flak for being an inadequate serving device for the strawberry balsamic salad dressing, but I didn't mind because they matched my Spoon and Strain Serving Tongs just fine!

During the warm weather months we eat a lot of salad 'meals,' and I rarely invest in bagged lettuce, as they tend to spoil much quicker than fresh produce. Thankfully our Dexas kitchen tools and gadgets make the process of preparing a fresh much simpler, and more stylish. Dexas has a full assortment of kitchen aids and innovations as well as school and office supplies all made with colorful, durable, and trendy materials. Grab our Strawberry Fields Salad recipe below and enter to win a collection of our favorite Dexas kitchen products. Do you have a favorite, or seasonal, salad you'll be enjoying this Spring?

What Daughter Says: Take some of the work out of enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables with thoughtful kitchen tools.

Enter to win a Dexas Prize Pack valued at $100, below, then continue hopping along to the other Blog POP! Spring Fling Event giveaways with the LINKY found here.

Dexas International

***Click for printable strawberry fields salad recipe.

A #FreshExpress Escape: Strawberry Fields Salad with Chicken Recipe

Momma Told Me: Eat your greens!

Raise your hands if you were a picky eater as a child; then keep those hands up if you still are today.

There's no argument that one of the toughest areas of childhood nutrition often falls on the topic of produce. Fruits and Vegetables are among the most important of tiers on the American food pyramid, and yet it seems as though the most consumed tier hovers closer to Saturated Fats and Sugars. When I was a young girl there were 3 main reasons for me to turn down my vegetables; 1.) the ingredient in question had already been pre-defined as a 'vegetable', thus giving it a stigma, 2.) the ingredient in question had a very distinct taste I did not care for (an example for me being, peas), and 3.) the ingredient itself has no discernible flavor, thus not purpose inside my mouth. Unfortunately for Momma, every vegetable and green, aside form carrots with peanut butter, fell into one of those 3 categories. Pop would kneel there, by the living room table where I'd eat, and place plea bargain (Hershey's) Kisses before me. One bite of the 'objectionable', one kiss for dessert. Some days it would be TV time for bites completed, nearly every day it would be one bargain or another.

Next to peas (it's a long story involving a tale my mother has told to every guy I've brought home upon introductions), leafy greens were my least favorite vegetable. The only time I could reason eating lettuce is if it were drowned in more cheese and dressing than leaves on my plate. There was something in the back of my head equating salad to that of bunny food, and I would simply have none of it. It just so happened Momma wouldn't, either, as she eventually fell into a lull of salads as sides, somewhere around my 10th birthday. By this age I had weakened a little in resolve. It seemed less effort to consume what was put before me than hold a defiant front against my parents. I had also discovered bagged greens and salad kits. Momma found, when she let me pick the vegetable sides, I was more likely to eat them- and oh how I fell in love with a 'Double Carrots' blend of bagged salad! Since then, I've found many more reasons to purchase bagged greens; and keep them stocked in my home today.

My favorite brand of bagged greens is Fresh Express for it's local (to me) roots dating back to the 1930s Salinas Valley produce industry. It might make me a bit of a nerd to confess my love for this brand only intensified after their appearance on Undercover Boss. If you love educational insights shows like Dirty Jobs and Undercover Boss, you get the fascination with taking a peak behind your favorite products and services. While I won't bore you with the details of how these bagged greens arrive at your local produce department, I will declare that I feel confident as a consumer in the quality and commitment behind each one. Unlike other brands of bagged greens, I've had negative experiences with before, Fresh Express proudly displays their 'Guaranteed Fresh By' date, so I know what's inside is the freshest possible. And, not only do I save money forgoing wasted and unused produce, by buying bagged greens, it's incredibly convenient to have fresh greens and salads on hand for cooking and snacking. That's right, the other half loves to take a bag of Baby Spinach to work to munch on!

There's no telling how much time I've saved through the years, or how many nutrients I wouldn't have consumed, if it weren't for these handy pouches of fresh produce. Getting everyone together to eat on time is often a challenge. Thanks to the large variety of Salad Kits and Bagged Salads #FreshExpress has to offer, I can be confident I'll always have a balanced meal, even in a pinch. It's no exaggeration that I eat more greens on a whim than I ever did with a head of lettuce banging around the fridge green bin. And, whether I'm buying bagged loose greens, or an entire salad, Fresh Express saves me valuable time rinsing, sorting, and cutting those greens! I keep both kits and bagged greens 'in stock' at home- especially when it comes to Spinach, which never goes to waste. If I don't turn it into a delicious salad, or Jeremy doesn't munch on it all, I know I can toss wilting leaves into a Spinach Dip or Stir Fry in no time. Unfortunately, I often have to buy extra bags for cooking purposes because we they never last long enough in our home to even begin wilting!

One of my favorite simple lunch recipes includes Fresh Express Baby Spinach and 50/50 Lettuce Mix; Strawberry Fields Salad. The 50/50 Lettuce mix is not always in stock local to me, but a great find when it is as it contains a Spring Leaf Blend and  Spinach for a leafy greens mixture that compliments sweeter salads. I should note that I could pay near $18 for this 'seasonal' salad at a local restaurant, while I can always make it at home for a fraction of the price. Those even more strapped for time, or less 'recipe' inclined should also check out the brand's Strawberry Fields Salad Kit for a similarly inspired flavor profile. My simple recipe relies on a few ordinary ingredients many have already at home, or can easily pick up during a routine grocery trip. While assembling the salad itself is the fun part, I always suggest to make the full recipe for this Strawberry Balsamic Dressing, because it disappears fast. I have to hide my leftover dressing, because it always ends up drizzled on everything from protein to ice cream!  Note the Sugar can be substituted entirely by doubling the yogurt, and Light or No Fat Yogurt is certainly a valid substitution as well. I've seen some variations include Poppy Seeds for texture, but I've been making my recipe for years without them, and have yet to hear any complaints.

Strawberry Balsamic Dressing

Ingredients:

*1 Package of Thawed Strawberries (16oz) or 2 1/2-3 C of Fresh Sliced Strawberries
*6 TBS Lemon Juice
*1/4 C Sugar, or Sugar Substitute (see above)
*2 TBS Virgin Olive Oil
*1 6oz Cup of Original Vanilla Yogurt

Directions:

1.)Puree strawberries in blender/processor, until smoothe.
2.) Add Lemon Juice, Sugar, and Yogurt. Process until evenly blended.
3.) Introduce Oil and Vinegar Slowly, allowing pauses to blend. This will help combine the ingredients and thicken the texture of the dressing.

Refrigerate until use. Yield: 2.5-3 Cups

Strawberry Fields Salad with Chicken

Ingredients:

*Fresh Express Baby Spinach and 50/50 Blend
*Fresh Sliced Strawberries
*Crumbled Feta Cheese
*Grated Parmesan Cheese
*Sliced Chicken Breast
*Strawberry Balsamic Dressing (See recipe above)
*Candied Pecans (optional)

Directions:

Layer the ingredients beginning with a light drizzle of dressing on your plate. Scatter a thin layer of Baby Spinach and 50/50, where Baby Spinach is predominant. Crumble Feta and sprinkle Parmesan lightly. Add a layer of thinly sliced strawberries, with a light drizzle of dressing, add candied pecans if desired, and repeat. Top second tier with thinly sliced Chicken Breast. Serve with a carafe of chilled Strawberry Balsamic Dressing. Enjoy!

A few notes about the Strawberry Fields Salad pictured above;

It's my experience that plating this salad, rather than serving it in a bowl offers better display and more uniform consumption. On a plate the layers can be wider, and thin, so the various chunky elements (pecans/feta) don't end up pooling at the bottom of a bowl. I layer the dressing lightly, beginning with the plate so the greens can be swiped across, for a hint of flavor, during consumption. The tartness of the dressing will vary depending on the ripeness of the berries used. For a naturally sweeter dressing frozen berries will do, if you prefer a tarter experience select lighter berries from local produce. To save time I purchase pre-cooked chicken breasts, which also allows me to control the thickness of the slices (as opposed to pre-sliced lunch meat packs). Do not top the salad with warm chicken; if you are cooking your own chicken breasts be sure to allow them time to chill prior to plating, or you will wilt the spinach! If you try the recipe out at home, be sure to come back and tell me about it! For more on my Strawberry Fields Salad, and to take a peek behind the scenes of this post, visit my Google+ album.

What Daughter Says: Thanks to the convenience of freshly bagged greens I can enjoy added nutrition, and additional savings- I no longer fuss over my veggies.

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and  #CBias #SocialFabric.