Food For the Soul

I have rediscovered my kitchen. For me, cooking is about feeding others. I find no joy in cooking for myself - to feed my soul I must fill your belly. My world and homes have become filled with wonderful people, whom I love - feeding them has become a new creative outlet for me.

My favorite kitchen comrade,Sarah, often quotes - "those who share food never get fat" - in honor of her birthday week I thought I would share my latest creative kitchen concoction.

Warm Apple Spinach and Bean Salad with Sweet Lemon Mustard Dressing

Salad
1 bag of leafy green spinach
1 Can of cannelloni Beans
1 tomato
Pepper to taste
I large Purple onion
½ Cup raisins
1 Gala Apple

Set oven to 300
Wash spinach and beans – Pour both into a 9x12 glass baking dish. Place in oven

Pepper the tomato and add to spinach around 10 mins in.

Pour ½ tsb of EVOO into pan and caramelize onion. With about 1 min left add raisins –cover and after 1 min remove from heat — add on top of spinach and beans once warmed

Pour ½ of dressing and mix salad

Slice gala apple and place on top once salad is warmed

Drizzle the rest of the dressing

Dressing to taste (in order of amount to put in)
Whole grain Dijon style mustard
Honey
Lemon juice
Maple syrup
Salt
Pepper
Sesame oil
Oregano
Red pepper flakes
Nutmeg – just a dash

A side note - -Finish up this healthy meal with some delish in-season cookies http://www.joyofbaking.com/Gingersnaps.html