Strawberry Spinach Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing

My brain is having trouble keeping up with my calendar. I'm still basking in the June warmth, preparing myself for a summer full of reunions, cook outs, camp fires, and farmer's market runs.

The only problem is, it's August.

What.
the.
heck.

How did that happen? And when did summer ask my permission to go this quickly? The nerve of these seasons. I don't remember them being this rude when I was younger.

But enough about my mid-summer crisis. Strawberry season may have managed to sneak away, but there was no way I was going to let summer get away without sharing this refreshing Strawberry Spinach Salad with you.

You may remember this salad from a Strawberry Recipe Round Up I did back in June (which to me feels pretty much like yesterday). Though I hadn't made it myself yet, I had heard enough glowing reviews to know it would be worth my while. The recipe is a feature on my friend's blog, Pineapple Grass, and she's made it for more than a few gatherings, new moms, and potlucks. After hearing many friends rave about it, I decided it was definitely time I jump on this band wagon.

My only regret is that I waited so long. For as simple as it sounds, this salad really is amazing. The components are basic- just a bunch of fresh spinach, juicy sliced strawberries, and a handful of chopped walnuts.

But the dressing, oh, the dressing.

It glazes over the spinach leaves, wrapping everything in a big tangy-sweet hug. The result is a salad that tastes like a strawberry lemonade. Let me repeat...this salad tastes like strawberry lemonade! Not. even. joking.

This was a revelation in our house! I couldn't get the Mr. to eat spinach if I stuffed it in a donut, let alone in a salad. But he tried this...and enjoyed it! Like, actually ate the whole bowl. It's that good.

Talk about a win. Have your spinach...and your strawberry lemonade too. That's the gift of summer.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Sweet Lemon Dressing

Serves 8-10

Recipe adapted from Pineapple Grass who thanks Paula Deen Celebrates

Ingredients:

8 oz. fresh baby spinach, rinsed

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

1 pint sliced strawberries

For the dressing:
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions:

1. In a large bowl combine spinach, walnuts, and strawberries. 

2. In a jar, combine lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, and oil. Shake until well combined. Store in the fridge until ready to serve. When ready to serve, give the jar a shake, pour dressing over spinach, and toss to combine.