Cran-Raisin and Walnut Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette

We do eat things other than butter and sugar and heavy cream around here.

Sometimes.

But, we don't eat much salad. My hubby doesn't like it. So, every time I buy lettuce with aspirations of converting my non-salad-eating hubby into a salad-eater, it turns brown and gooey before I even think to make something with it.

There are, however, two salads that he will eat. Anytime.

A good Grilled Chicken Caesar.

And, this one - Cran-Raisin Walnut Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette.

This salad has the most deliciously sweet and tart dressing, served over red leaf lettuce and baby spinach, and topped with feta cheese, cran-raisins, and toasted walnuts.

It's got that salty/sweet thing goin' on. Kinda like a peanut butter cup. Only it's a salad. It makes us feel all healthy like.

So, we have peanut butter cups for dessert.

This salad has a homemade dressing. Girls, if you only buy bottled dressing (like I did for years and years), and you've never made a homemade salad dressing, you can make this one. If you have a blender or food processor, it's as easy as making a smoothie. And, the payoff in flavor is huge.

All of the "toppings" are optional. If you don't like nuts, skip 'em. Don't like feta (poor, pitiful souls)? You can leave it off, or substitute another type of cheese.

Not only is this salad sure to win over the pickiest of non-salad-eaters, but it makes for a beautiful presentation.

And, it's killer served alongside Chicken Tetrazzini.

Cran-Raisin and Walnut Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
a family recipe...

One head red leaf lettuce, chopped
2 cups baby spinach
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
1 cup cran-raisins (sweetened, dried cranberries, such as Ocean Spray)

Dressing:

1/2 cup cranberry sauce
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon red onion, chopped
1/2 cup olive oil

Combine red leaf lettuce, baby spinach, and sliced red onions in a large bowl. Set aside.

In a food processor or blender, combine cranberry sauce, red wine vinegar, one tablespoon red onion, and honey in food processor. Pulse until combined. Gradually add oil, processing until smooth.

To assemble salad

Pour salad dressing over greens, and toss to combine. Place one cup of salad mixture on a salad plate. Sprinkle with feta cheese, followed by walnuts and cran-raisins.

*This salad is even better with fresh cranberries, when available. Just substitute 1/4 cup fresh cranberries for the cranberry sauce, and add 1 tablespoon sugar to the dressing.

*If serving to a group that might not like all the toppings, I often create a "salad bar" of sorts. I put out a large bowl of the salad mixture on the table, and a cluster of little bowls on the side containing feta, cran-raisins, and walnuts. And, I'll serve the dressing on the side in a gravy boat. This allows everyone to create individual salads to their liking.