Best Ever Spinach Salad

The weather here in Charm City is definitely getting nicer and since I am still eating for one with the hubs working all the time, I was looking to move away from the heavy dishes I've been making this winter. 

Enter Recipe Boy. Have you ever read Recipe Girl? Well, Recipe Boy is the foodie child of Lori Lange, the brains behind Recipe Girl. I often turn to her for delicious recipes. She makes one of my most favorite, go-to summer appetizers, Bruschetta with Peach Salsa & Melted Brie so I figured her son had to have awesome recipes, too! When I saw Best Spinach Salad Recipe on his blog, I decided to give it a try. He is 11 years old and all the money he makes via his blog goes directly to his college fund, so adorable!

This salad is amazing. It is light enough that I don't feel crushed after eating it but hearty enough that I am full.

It is also super easy to make with just a few ingredients. The original recipe calls for an avocado but the first day I made this salad I'd had guacamole as a snack and was not feeling more avocado so in lieu of the avocado I added a shallot I had on hand and half a green pepper. I could seriously eat this salad everyday, which is what I am going to do this week. 

Oh, and don't skip making the vinaigrette, I was just going to use salad dressing I had but since I had all the ingredients for the vin I made it and I am so glad I did! I also adjusted the recipe to be a serving for a single person but made the vinaigrette as is and bottled it to keep in the fridge.  

Best Spinach Salad Recipe by Recipe Boy (my adaptations noted with a *)

SALAD:
4 generous handfuls of fresh spinach leaves
1 1/2 cups chopped cooked chicken
1/3 cup goat cheese crumbles
6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped
1 large avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced (*omitted)
1 shallot, chopped*
1/2 green bell pepper*

VINAIGRETTE:
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon strawberry jam
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Place salad ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix vinaigrette ingredients together and drizzle on top. Toss and divide between four bowls for serving.