This recipe comes from my mom’s stash. It appeared in our Easter spread most years growing up. You all know how I love seasonal stuff so this hits the spot in Spring.  While living in Switzerland, I tried to follow the Swiss way of cooking with ingredients that were in season. After a long winter here we are far from red, juicy strawberries so I am sure I am breaking all kinds of rules. But certainly, at least one of you lives in a part of the world with happy strawberries so this one is for you!  And a slight confession, I don’t love spinach. I know, I know, it’s trendy right now to love snacking on Kale chips and raw spinach but I am just not able to pretend on this one…BUT, the dressing for this salad makes raw spinach delish for those of you that might be hiding out, putting on a pretty face pretending to like spinach.

Strawberry Walnut Salad

Judy Seckinger {my mom can’t remember exactly where she got this recipe…guessing there are many like it out there}

1 lb baby spinach

1 pint strawberries

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (you can also substitute crumbled gargonzola or goat cheese)

Dressing:

1/2 cup sugar ( I decrease this considerably…just start with 1/4 cup and add more if you like)

2 T sesame seeds

1 T poppy seeds

1 1/2 minced onion or shallots

1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

dash of paprika

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

If you are making the dressing ahead or plan to use it over a couple of days skip the fresh onion and just toss some on to the fresh salad. I find it takes over the dressing if it gets the time to hang out!

Enjoy!

We had a really nice Easter this year. We celebrated with the usual traditions of attending a special Easter service, going to an egg hunt, getting baskets of candy and delicious food. The most special thing this year for Seth and I was that both Jackson and Owen were really interested in the story of Easter. Throughout last week Seth read through the Easter story to them in pieces. They were all ears and had great questions. On Good Friday when Seth sat on their floor with the lights dim and boys heads on pillows ready for story time Seth told the boys he was going to read about Jesus dying on the cross. Owen exclaimed “ohhh I love that part of the story”. lol. Clearly he doesn’t love that Jesus died on the cross but he and Jackson were engaged and for the first time Owen was in on the action. Our church sang the song Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed by the Getty’s throughout the season leading up to Easter. It has become a favorite. I will attempt to add the link below…

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We hosted my brother and his family for brunch and it was SO refreshing for me to work on creative, hostessy things again after a hiatus since MaryAnne was born. I have so missed having people in our home. It was nice to try a couple of new recipes and sweep up old cheeries off the floor and wipe off crusted finger prints spruce up the table. We had lots of great food but this time around my criteria was a bit different…I made things that make great leftovers, easy prep, and kid-friendly for the most part with a few specials!  My mom always jokes that as kids we knew it was a holiday when there was kiwi in the fruit salad. To this day I love the sight of a big fruit salad with kiwi to boot.

For those interested in the menu…

Easter Brunch Menu

Mimosas for the adults and Strawberry lemonade for the kiddos

Honey Ham with Pineapple Sauce

Fruit Salad

Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Blue Cheese, Walnuts and Poppyseed Dressing {Recipe Coming Soon}

Swiss Potato Gratin

Deviled Eggs (thanks to my SIL)

Blueberry Crumb Coffee Cake  (thanks to my SIL)

~for dessert~

Cheesecake with berry sauce

Dirt dessert for kids

{you can get fancy about this but I just layered chocolate pudding with crushed Joe Joe cookies from TJ’s! Added a few gummy worms and flowers and the kids loved it!}