A mistake led to a wonderful discovery last Sunday night at McGuire Family Sunday Dinner.  Normally, Mom and Pop McGuire make dinner for the 6 of us.  In an effort to help out this week, I offered to bring a salad.  I spent a good amount of time at home making a tasty looking Greek salad with tomatoes, feta, kalamata olives, spinach and other fresh greens, and a homemade lemon-Dijon dressing.

 

And... then I forgot it on the counter.  Because my in-laws live about 45 minutes away and we didn't realize our (my!) mistake until we were nearly there, there was no going back.

 

Feeling like a total and complete goober, I explained what happened to my mother-in-law, who didn't even bat an eye.  "No problem!" she said, and commenced to whip up one of the most delicious salads I've had in a long time: Spinach Salad with Pepper Jelly Dressing, which of course we paired with Evolution.

 

There was just the right amount of spice in the dressing, and with a few handfuls of candied walnuts to bring a little sweetness to the dish, I vowed to forget food at home more often just so she would have to make this salad again.  Below is a recipe I found on AllRecipes.com that is very similar to hers.  Enjoy!

 

Ingredients
3 tablespoons mild pepper jelly
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 cups baby spinach leaves
2 ounces goat cheese, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped walnuts

 

Directions

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the pepper jelly, olive oil, salt and mustard to make the dressing. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Let cool.
2. Place the spinach in a large bowl, and toss with the dressing. Divide between two serving bowls. Top each one with slices of goat cheese and sprinkle with walnuts.