The Best Salad, Ever

You. Must. Make. This. Salad.

Period.

I've had a hate affair with beets since I was a child.  Beets were one of the only foods that kept me at the table well past dinnertime until I could clean my plate.  I think creamed corn was the other.  Truthfully, I don't recall if I ever finished the beets on my plate or if mom & dad got sick of me sitting there, and told me to leave the table.  Maybe I choked them down?  It's a far suppressed memory. 

Until now.

I had this salad at The Strand House in Manhattan Beach, and I will never be the same.  The oven-roasted beets are delicious!!!  If you are in MB, please go to The Strand House.  

*Beets – roast & chill, cut into slices & quarter

*Oranges – slice segments

*Applewood bacon – cook & cool - please use Applewood bacon!

*Goat cheese - crumble

*Butter lettuce – wash & cut into small sections - this lettuce is smooth and creamy, can lettuce be creamy?  Oh yes, yes it can

*Apple balsamic vinaigrette – see recipe below - you will fall in love with this dressing

Spread lettuce on the bottom of a platter.  Layer the remaining ingredients on top!

Apple Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1 T onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 cup apple cider (I used unfiltered juice because cider was unavailable)

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

1/2 t dried basil

1/4 t pepper

1/2 t salt

1 T honey

1/2 cup olive oil

Dressing Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in a lidded container and shake!
2. Smell the dressing and float on air for a few seconds
3. Pour over salad (or veggies, or other items to be marinaded)