Cheddar & Apple Spinach Salad Recipe

Just when you thought we were done here with apples...

We all have nights where OMG we just don't feel like cooking. Some of you might not like cooking in the first place, but you're here because you think I'm charming, or good looking, or because you're related to me.

For nights when turning on the oven is the last thing you want to do but you can't stand the idea of a sandwich, throw together a quick spinach salad.

Spinach is packed with iron and vitamin A, along with beta-carotene to help protect your night visition. The antioxidants found in spinach are said to help prevent tissue and cellular damage in the body. Spinach is probably one of the more popular leafy greens next to lettuce - I like a good bowl of mixed baby greens as much as the next girl, but to know you're eating something with great health benefits rather than just, well, nothing, is a good feeling.

I had just been to the grocery store, so I played "empty the fridge" into this salad even though while I was shopping, I did have it in the back of my mind.

Cheddar & Apple Spinach Salad
Serves 1 as a meal (or 2 appetizer-sized portions)

Ingredients:

2-3 cups baby spinach (can use more if you like a hearty salad)
1 Golden Delicious Apple (chopped, with skin)
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup white beans (I used cannellini)
1 oz. cheddar cheese, sliced into chunks
Drizzle with dressing of your choice (Although I think this salad is so good that dressing is a detriment to it)

Directions:

Toss ingredients together on a plate and top with dressing. Serve alongside a bowl of butternut squash or winter vegetable soup or with crusty 7-grain bread for a hearty dinner, or by itself for a tasty yet virtuous lunch. (For lunches, I omit the apple and eat one separately as a snack!)

Comments

[ANG*]

sounds perfect. love throwing all sorts of stuff in a bowl and calling it dinner. but lately i've even been too lazy for a salad. *maybe* i'll wake up early enough to make one before work?

[KC]

Everything you make looks amazing! I want to jump through my computer screen and eat it!

Thanks for the nice comment as well. :-)

[soulchocolate]

Excellent idea! this is just what I will have for my dinner starter tonight. Guess what? I happen to have ready spinach leaves and apples in my refrigerator. Thanks for reminding me to use them up!

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

I have a spinach salad of one sort or another (a lot of "fridge dump") almost every night. It's a great way to get those dark leafy greens into your diet, and spinach can take some very aggressive salad partners. One of my favorite combinations is steamed asparagus and strawberries, drizzled with a balsamic vinegar. I also like nectarines, blue cheese and spinach.

[stylishhandwriting]

Yum! I love throwing random things into salads. And fruit in salads? A major love of mine.

[Sara]

This looks really delicious, and healthy too!

[Muse in the Kitchen]

I love apple salads - this one looks really good. I like the addition of the beans, definitely makes it more substantial!

[Andrea [bellaeats]]

Lovely salad! I'm on an apple kick too...just picked 18+ pounds at an orchard. I recently discovered your blog and I'm really liking it! :)

[Paula]

I'm all for salads that don't use massive amounts of . . . well, SALAD . . . but I am not a massive fan of fruit in savoury things. All the same, I'm almost tempted by this.

[katelin]

yum yum and yum.

[annie]

Your salad looks so yummy.

I had a macoun apple today for my mid afternoon snack. It was so tasty!

I'm trying to eat 5 times a day lately to keep my metabolism going.

[susan]

That is so creative. I think salads are such a snooze that I end up throwing so many things in it that actually make it not healthy anymore, but this one looks amazing!

And, I love that you go into detail with the nutrition information.

[Aggie]

I am loving spinach lately...your salad looks great!!

[Debbie Davis]

This looks wonderful. Hmmmm..... I think I need to go to the store -- I may make this for lunch! (:

[alexandra's kitchen]

I love that game. I always have some sort of cheese, some sort of dried fruit and some sort of nut to add — the worst is when I don't have an apple or orange or some sort of fruit. I love love love apples with cheddar!

[noble pig]

Sounds delicious. what a perfect little meal this would be.

[Amy]

How have you been?! It's been awhile since I've been reading some blogs- work has been crazy!

I love your redesign! It's very cool!

Have you ever tried Sargentos cheeses? Yummy...

[Kevin]

This salad sounds great!

[Anna]

YUMMY!

[brandy]

I made this today (using your tips) and it was absolutely delicious! Love the ingredients and it meets my 'gluten free' needs. Thanks for posting this!