Mediterranean Spinach Salad with Artichokes and Capers

First, I would like to invite you to please “Like” me on Facebook.  Also, join me on Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs and RSS Feeder.  If you want an Email sent to you when I post on my blog, submit your email in the space provided on the right sidebar.  Thank you so much for continuing to come back each week.

I don’t normally write down a salad recipe and therefore, it is hard to post one on a blog.  But my husband and I have a very favorite salad that I call “the go to salad”.

To begin with, you have to purchase some things from Costco.  These are some of my favorite things and I use them in everything.  You might say they are luxury items and you could live without them.  You might say that they are too expensive, but I am here to say that if you purchase these items, you will make them work in so many dishes that it will be worth the extra expense.  Also, if you are a foodie, like me, you will feel like you are eating a treat every time….for little added calories.

Here are my Costco musts haves:
Capers
Marinated Artichoke Hearts
Jalapeño and Garlic Stuffed Giant Green Olives
Kirkland’s Pecorino Romano Cheese (big chunk)…not pictured
(Dressing not bought at Costco)

If you have a giant jar of artichoke hearts in your refrigerator, you will eat one on every salad and they make a ho hum salad into a tasty treat.  Also, chicken paired with artichokes in a lemon butter sauce over pasta is delicious.  Add capers to that and you have my version of Lemon Chicken Piccata.  If you check out that recipe, you will see that I made that before I discovered the very large and cost effective way of buying those ingredients from Costco.

We discovered this combination of flavors one night simply by accident.  You know how it is.  You open the frig and start pulling out anything that might be good in a salad.  For some reason that night, my husband was making the salad.  This is not a common occurrence but you can bet if he is fixing something for dinner, it is because I am not there or had a really stressful day and didn’t get home until late…you get the picture.  But it is not to say that he cannot cook because he does a great job when he does.  Every since that night, we have made the same salad over and over because it just really went well together.  It reminds me of the Blue Cheese, Walnut and Pear salad.  The flavors just work together.

Ok….ok….here it is.

MEDITTERANEAN SPINACH SALAD WITH ARTICHOKES AND CAPERS

6 cups of fresh baby spinach
1/3 large red bell pepper
1/4 large onion
2 tbsp capers
4 jalepeno and garlic stuffed giant olives
6 quarters marinated artichoke hearts (first washing off the oil)
2-4 tbsp fresh Pecorino Romano Cheese (cut in slivers)
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
2-3 tbsp Brianna Homestyle Asiago Caesar Dressing (This is a must for the flavor!!)

One thing that we do (and you will get big chunks of crunchy goodness) is to keep the pepper and onions in slices instead of chops.

The same thing is true of the cheese.  If all you have is grated Parmesan, I am sure it would be good but not nearly as good as slicing off some Pecorino Romano from Costco.  It is sort of salty and low in calories.  I have used it almost daily since I bought it a month ago….even if just a bite.  My son used it in the Captain’s Pecorino Romano Chicken posted a couple of weeks ago.

This is my recipe for Tuesday’s Tasty Tidbits and Grocery Shop for Free.  I am thrilled to still be a part of her weekly website.  Check her out for some great tips on how to get things for free or at discounted prices.  Please link up below your recipe, food information, cooking supplies, cookbook reviews, food crafts or anything you want……I don’t even care if there is food in it…hah.  I am really just so thrilled to have you participate.

   

We had a lot more hopping going on at Tuesday’s Tasty Tidbits this week.  Thank you for jumping around and checking out the recipes and great food information.  The most visited entry (which was #34) was to a blog called Whole.New.Mom.  She loves to talk about saving money, saving time and saving the environment.  Her post was called DIY Plastic Wrap Substitute.  Check it out, when you get a chance.  Such an easy idea!

The second most visited blog entry was to a blog called Vanessa Morgan.  Her entry was about Halloween Pumpkin Drinks.  I loved it too.

Blog parties that I may be joining this week:

Savory Sundays; Every Day Sisters Sharing Sundays; Your Recipe, My Kitchen

My Meatless Mondays ;Mouthwatering Mondays ; Homemaker Mondays ; Midnight Maniac Meatless  ;  Monday Mania ; Melt in Your Mouth Mondays ; Made By You Mondays ; Made With Love Mondays ; Happy Homemaker Mondays ; Make a Food-e Friend Monday ; Menu Mondays ; Mangia Mondays (healthy); July Link Party at Jam Hands; Motivate Me Mondays; Two Maids a Baking; Made It Monday; Making Your Home Sing Monday; Making Monday Marvelous Day; Making the World Cuter Monday; Amaze Me Mondays; Muffin Monday; Motivated Mondays ; Homestead Barn Hop ; Make Your Own Mondays ; A Marvelous Monday ; Savvy Homemade Monday ; Hunk of Meat Monday

Tuesday Night Supper Club; Tasty Tuesdays; Tempt My Tummy Tuesday ; Tuesdays At the Table; Made From Scratch Tuesday; What’s On Your Plate?; Delectable Tuesday ; Dr. Laura’s Tasty Tuesday; Totally Tasty Tuesday;Naptime Creations Tasty Tuesday Link Party; Show Me What You Got  ; Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie  ; Tuesday To Do List; Tuesday Time Out Inspiration Party; Lil Luna Linky Party; Anti-Procrastination Tuesday; Tea Party Tuesday; Tuesday Confessional; Topsy Turvy Tuesday; Recipe Roundup: Gluten Free on a Budget ; Tuesday Talent Show at Chef in Training ; Tutorial Tuesday ; Tuesday Time Out ; Domestically Divine Tuesday ; Take a Look Tuesday ; Terrific Under $10 Tuesdays ; Hearth and Soul Hop ; Frugal Tuesday Tip

What’s Cooking Wednesday; Recipes I Can’t Wait To Try; What’s Cooking Wednesday; What’s For Dinner?; Works For Me Wednesday; Real Food Wednesday; Whatever Goes Wednesday; What’s On the Menu Wednesday; We Did It Wednesday; Penny Pinching Party; Friendly Wednesday; Passionately Artistic; Show Off Your Stuff; What I Whipped up Wednesday; Cast Party Wednesday; This Chick Cooks; Your Whims Wednesday; Show and Tell Linking Party Wednesday; Wow Me Wednesdays; Wild Wednesday Hop; Show and Share; Wow Me Wednesday; Sweet Tempatations; ; Success U-Wednesday Link-up ; The Mommy Club ; Create and Share ; Workshop Wednesday ; Healthy 2Day Wednesdays

Creative Juice Thursday; Tasty Traditions; Full Plate Thursday; Cooking Thursday; Turning the Table Thursday; It’s A Keeper Thursday; What’s Cooking Thursday; Making It with Allie Thursdays; Frugal Follies Thursday; Simple Lives Thursday; Bake with Bizzy; Delightfully Inspiring Thursday Link Party; Share Your Awesomeness Thursdays; It’s a Blog Party; Vintage Recipe Thursday ; Haute Stuff Thursday ; Things I Love Thursday

Friday Potluck ;Family Friendly Fridays ;Simply Sweet Home Friday’s Favorites ;Food on Fridays ;Foodie Friday ;Food Trip Friday ;Fat Camp Friday ; Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap ;Creation Corner, Friday’s Link Party ;Feature Yourself Friday ;Sweets This Week Friday ;Simply Delish ;Presto Pasta Night ; Link Up Friday

Pity Party Summer Lovin Saturdays; Party Mindie Style; Shindig Saturday; Whatcha Got Weekend (WGW); Creative-ly U Link-up; Strut Your Stuff Saturday; 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies ; Weekend Wrap Up Party