Cherry, Pecan & Goat Cheese Salad

Fresh greens topped with dried cherries, pecans, goat cheese, green onions, and homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
My go-to salad for the holidays!

Having three kids is fascinating, to say the least. And the fact that they are all girls is even more fascinating! In some ways, they are all pretty typical little girls. They love drawing and painting and dressing up and playing baby and having dance parties.....and emotions run high, nearly all the time. But in other ways, I am sometimes amazed at how much they remind me of little boys! They love running and chasing and wrestling and potty talk....especially potty talk.....and, given the chance to play firefighter or police officer, they'll take it every time!

One of the other things that's fascinating about having 3 girls? How different they all are from one another. Tonight we have parent teacher conferences for the older two, and I can't wait to see what their second grade and kindergarten teachers have to say about them. There are obvious differences we see at home - Ellia lets all her feelings out, Greta keeps them in until she has a meltdown; Ellia wants a constant playmate, Greta is much better at playing on her own - but I always wonder if or how those things translate to who they are at school. I guess we will find out at least a little bit tonight!

Between the two of them, I definitely find it easier to relate to Ellia. We're more alike in more ways! (As for Nora, I'm still trying to convince myself that her current level of sassiness is just because she's 2....not because it's indicative of who she'll turn out to be.....) Greta definitely picks up on the fact that she's somewhat of a mystery to me, and the other day, actually said out of the blue, "Mommy doesn't understand me." And although she said it to be silly, with a little smile on her face, there is truth to it! There is a lot about her that I don't totally understand! That said, I want her to feel free to be herself, whether I understand it or not. Parenting - no one ever said it was easy.

But you know what IS easy? This salad! It couldn't be easier, in fact....and the payoff is huge. Kinda like parenting....minus the easy part. :)

Cherry, Pecan & Goat Cheese Salad
10 oz. fresh greens 
1/2 c. dried cherries
1/2 c. chopped pecans
5 oz. goat cheese
3-4 sliced green onions 

Mix all ingredients in large salad bowl.

Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing

3/4 c. olive oil

3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

2 tsp. minced red onion

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. pepper

(*Adapted from The America's Test kitchen Family Cookbook: Basic Vinaigrette recipe)

Enjoy!

Check out some of my other favorite holiday side dishes, too!

 

Thanks for taking a peek inside my Lemon Tree Dwelling...

I hope you feel right at home!