Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

This salad was on my Thanksgiving table.  I ate the whole thing; the guys were more interested in the mashed potatoes and gravy and Crescent Rolls. Truth be told, we did not have turkey this year. Instead, we grilled tri tip steaks. It was all delicious and it was easy. Ron grilled the steaks and I appreciated that. 

My salad was made from arugula, dried cranberries (Craisins), and toasted pecans (I toasted them in a dry skillet on the stove top).  The grain on the salad is called "Freekeh".  I got a small sample of Freekeh at a health fair.  It's sort of like cracked wheat or brown rice.  I enjoyed having this chewy, nutty grain on my salad.  Quinoa or brown rice would be a great substitution.

The star of this salad was the Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing.  Orange, cranberry, and pecan!  A perfect flavor combination.  The only problem I am finding with homemade salad dressings is that the olive oil solidifies in the refrigerator so the dressing needs to warm up a bit at room temperature before using it again.

Orange Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

Adapted from "101 Cookbooks"
Original recipe:  http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/video-citrus-parmesan-farro-salad-recipe.html

1 medium orange, zest and juice
1 shallot, chopped (I only used about 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons Parmesan, finely grated
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/3 cup good quality olive oil
a couple small pinches of salt

Place all ingredients in a container with a tight fitting lid; shake to combine.

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Over Thanksgiving, Zach was home from college.  He did my daily workouts with me.  During the month of November, I did a new fitness program called "21 Day Fix Extreme".   The workouts are tough!

We took "sweaty selfies" after our workouts to post in my Facebook group (the Facebook group is all people who are working out with Beachbody programs and the group helps with motivation and accountability).

Here's a sweaty selfie... this boy needs a haircut... again!

On Friday, a package arrived. We ordered a weight bench.  All of us will use this.  Later this month, I am starting a fitness program called "The Chisel" and it calls for a weight bench.  I am looking forward to it.  But wait... the bench came in a big old box... completely UN-assembled.  No worries!  I got this... GIRL POWER!

Ta-day!  All done.