I know I’ve sad it before, but the weather really effects what I feel like eating: I only enjoy Chinese food when it rains. I go through lemons like crazy in the spring. And it’s very rare to see me eating salad on a day that isn’t sunny and warm.
So when Fresh Express issued a challenge to bloggers to create a salad for a chance to win airfare and accommodations to this year’s Foodbuzz Festival, I was perplexed. But I had so much fun last year, and I really want to go again, so I gave it some thought.
Like a lot of other food bloggers, I tend to go pumpkin-crazy this time of year. But there are so many other great, seasonal flavors! Like fresh figs, which are probably my favorite food on the entire planet. And roasted beets, whose earthy-sweetness seems right at home in the fall and winter but out-of-place the rest of the year.
I wan’t sure how these two ingredients would pair together, but I figured it was worth a shot and set out to create a salad that bridges the late summer and early fall harvest seasons. With cinnamon-pecans to add the warm flavors that I crave this time of year, prosciutto to add porkiness, and creamy goat cheese to tie everything together, this is a salad that I’ll happily eat, rain or shine, all autumn long.
(Yes, I find it somewhat ironic that I used Spring Mix in a fall-themed salad. But I’m picky about my salad greens, and that’s what I like. As for a review of Fresh Express…. well, it’s lettuce. I don’t have any complaints and I’d have no problems buying it if that’s what the store I happen to be at carries. I’m not about to make a special trip for it or anything though.)
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Harvest Salad with Cinnamon Pecans
- 1 bag Fresh Express Spring Mix
- 2 Tbs balsamic vinaigrette
- 2 roasted beets, chopped (wrap in foil and roast at 400 for 90 minutes. Let cool, then peel.)
- 5 Fresh figs, quartered, gently warmed under the broiler for a minute
- 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup cinnamon pecans (see below)
- 8 pieces thinly-sliced proscuitto (optional)
Divide spring mix between four bowls. Toss with balsamic vinaigrette. Top with remaining ingredients.
Serves 4.
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Cinnamon Pecans
- 1 T butter, melted
- 1/4 c pecan halves
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Heat oven to 450. Toss pecans in butter and cinnamon. Roast for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool.
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Disclosure: Fresh Express provided me with coupons for free salad mix. I was not obligated to write about it, and all opinions given above are my own. By writing this post, I am entering myself to win airfare and accommodations to the Foodbuzz Festival.
This recipe looks so good. I love salads all year round but this one is definitely hitting my fall harvest cravings! Can’t wait to try it out for a nice Sunday lunch tomorrow
What a beautiful salad. I am really enjoying the fresh express salad blends (I had never had them before). Goat cheese rocks on all salads (in my opinion) and those cinnamon pecans sound fabulous. Hope you’re having a great week
I love using bagged salad mixes…they make it so much more convenient to whip up a fab salad like this. I really enjoy your blog…if you have a moment, can you zip by my blog? I have a little something for you…
YUM! I am recently obsessed with figs after finding them at Fresh Market. This is a winning salad for sure!
What a beautiful salad! I love the Fall flavors here, especially the with addtion of the candied pecans…great combination.
The first part of your post made me laugh, because there’s a woman in my office that ALWAYS wants Chinese food when it’s raining, too!
The salad looks great, but those cinnamon pecans really sound amazing!
oh beautiful! i want to eat this right now.
This sounds sooo good. To me, it seems like the addition of the roasted beets, goat cheese & prosciutto turns it into more of a comforting food that we so often look for in the fall. Good luck with the contest!
Hey!
Well it looks great and i believe it taste good so good luck on the contest….
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I have my own blog and i would like to exchange links with you if its not a problem.
Thanks!
I usually think of salad just as i’m about to plate the main, a quick vinaigrette and some leaves to accompany and lighten…
love what you have done with these ingredients, each element delectable on its own – the cinnamon pecans are no doubt the crowning piece!
This looks wonderful. I love how you combined the figs with the beets and goat cheese — plus cinnamon pecans! MMM! Wish I could order this at a restaurant, but I will gladly settle for making it at home.
Good luck with this Lauren – looks like the perfect salad for the fall. I hope you win this since I am not eligible (sigh, again!) 😉
That stinks… I wish you could enter!!!
I just received beets in my csa. I love the combination you’ve used here. Can’t wait to give it a try. Good luck!
haha… just now discovering figs.
Yum! I’m just not discovering figs. This looks so good! Definitely one to add to my rotation.
Haha well seeing as how there’s no fall mix salad, I think you’re in the clear. This sounds delicious! They do say that veggies that come into season together naturally taste good together and I think it must be true!