Spinach Salad and Cucumber Sandwiches

     I’m Feeling in the mood for a fresh salad tonight. I’ve been running around town all day and the last thing I feel like eating is a big filling meal. With the temperature here still well above eighty degrees today it does still feel a bit like summer. What a great way to use up the bits and pieces left in the fridge before our trip.  
  

for the salad~ layer

 1 Cup Spinach  $1.00

 2 oz Mozzarella $1.25

1 Tomato $.50

1/8 Red onion $.35
1/4 cup pecans $.50

Basil

Green apple slices $.50
Raisins $.25 

cucumber
julienned ham $.50

Serve with good olive oil , an aged balsamic vinegar and S&P

Filling the sandwich with goodies

A very nice aged balsamic

for the sandwiches ~:

lightly spread both sides of the bread with cream cheese $.50
spread a hint of mayo on one side
layer of seeded cucumbers sliced paper thin  (last of the garden crop)
pieces of red onion $.30
celery salt
dried chive
salt & pepper
Total under $6.00

TIP OF THE DAY: As the weather gets cooler our bodies naturally crave heartier heavier meals. It’s built into our DNA, the same way we naturally crave salad in summer. Even though it is October it is still pretty warm here so it feels like a good night for salad.

With months of hearty eating ahead I sometimes like to shake things up a bit with a light refreshing salad. I’ll balance the lightness of the salad with a rich 25 year old balsamic vinegar that like a fine wine is aged to perfection.