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7 Layer Salad...in 1 Container - No Soggy Lettuce!

by on ‎04-30-2015 06:15 PM

Hi, everyone!


Have you ever tried to pack a salad in your lunch box? It’s not easy. Either you have five different containers to keep the ingredients separate so your salad doesn’t get soggy, or you have one big container…and soggy salad...that you then don’t want...so you order the grilled cheese anyway.


That’s when a friend told me about the mason jar salad. (I sound like I’m on a drug commercial or something, don’t I??) Anyway, it’s true. A friend at work brought in this beautiful salad in a mason jar and explained that not only can you put all of your ingredients in one container without creating an inedible salad, but you can use one of the thousand mason jars (or in my case, Lock & Lock  containers) in your cabinet. AND, it’s so cute, you could serve these as an appetizer at a party.


7 Layer Salad in a Mason Jar


Here’s my take on a 7-Layer Salad. Note: To keep your salad fresh and crisp, layer the ingredients as follows: dressing first, starch second, fruits/vegetables third, and proteins/nuts fourth. End with the greens.


Ingredients:


Salad:



  • 1/2 cup orange poppy seed vinaigrette (recipe follows)

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa

  • 1/2 cup mandarin orange segments

  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries or dried cherries

  • 1/2 cup almonds

  • 1/2 cup cooked turkey bacon

  • 1 cup fresh baby kale, spinach, or salad greens of your choice


Orange-Poppy Seed Vinaigrette:



  • 1/2 cup orange juice

  • 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

  • 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

  • 2 Tbsp honey

  • 1 Tbsp orange marmalade

  • Dash of salt and pepper

  • 1 tsp poppy seeds


Preparation:



  1. To prepare the salad: Layer the ingredients, one on top of each other, finishing with fresh salad greens in a mason jar or lidded container. Do not overfill. Shake the container so that the ingredients are mixed with the vinaigrette before eating.

  2. To prepare the dressing: Pulse the first 6 ingredients 2 or 3 times in a Vitamix blender until blended. Pour the dressing into a container, add the poppy seeds, and stir to combine.


Have a great night! It’s almost the weekend…think happy thoughts!


From my home to yours,
—Jill