I can’t take credit for creating this salad. It comes straight from my friend, Kelly.

See, last week we went to her house for dinner. Obviously, I was in charge of the dessert.

But then I got busy. And things came up.

And I didn’t get said dessert made. So I took store-bought cookies. Yes, store-bought. I was desperate. I don’t even like store-bought cookies. Unless they involve peanut butter. Then I like them enough to eat 14.

Naturally,  I bought cookies with peanut butter. The worst part?

Not only did I not make a delicious, homemade dessert, but I ate 2 cookies on the way to her house. I really did.  I presented her with a box of a dozen cookies that really only had 10 cookies.

 

 

What can I say? I was hungry.

I promise I have some class.

Not only did she slave over the hot stove all day, but she also made this fresh, delectable salad.

And come on, we all know that if I think a salad is good, it must be good.

 

 

This salad doesn’t even have bacon or cheese, which are my 2 requirements for ingesting vegetables. So you can imagine how great it really is.

One bite in, I asked her what on earth could possibly make this salad so delicious?

Then she gave me her secrets. Balsamic vinegar. And brown sugar.

You know, the healthy kind of sugar because it’s brown?

 

 

The next day I made the salad again. Yes, you read correctly. I ate salad 2 days in a row.

 

 

Brown Sugar Balsamic Salad

6 cups romaine lettuce

1 cup sliced strawberries

1 red delicious apple, sliced

1/2 cup balsamic glazed walnuts (recipe below)

brown sugar-balsamic dressing

Combine ingredients together and toss with balsamic dressing.

 

 

Balsamic Glazed Walnuts

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 cup walnuts

In a saucepan over low heat, combine vinegar and sugar and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add walnuts, coating them. Lay out on wax paper to dry, about 1 hour.

 

 

Brown Sugar Balsamic Dressing

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Whisk or shake ingredients together to combine.

 

 

 

 

Does it still count as salad if there are no other veggies besides romaine?

I vote yes.