Mixed Green Salad with Pomegranates and Mushrooms

2011-12-20 011

2011-12-20 011

2011-12-20 016

2011-12-20 016

2011-12-24 005

2011-12-24 005

2011-12-24 006

2011-12-24 006

2011-12-24 007

2011-12-24 007

2011-12-20 008

2011-12-20 008

2011-12-20 015

2011-12-20 015

2011-12-20 011

2011-12-20 011

We eat a big salad as our dinner at least a couple nights a week.   You might think that is pretty boring, but there are so many ingredients you can add to a salad to keep it flavor packed and filling.    Pomegranates are so colorful and flavor packed and add a nice texture to salads.  They are one of the healthiest things to eat, in their natural form.   I am not talking about pomegranate flavored jelly beans that are marketed to us as healthy, but the actual fruit.  This super fruit is packed with anti-oxidants and is high in vitamin C and potassium.The first time I saw a pomegranate, I didn't really know how I was going to get those seeds out, but it's actually pretty easy.   I cut the fruit in half and then in half again and then I bend the skin back a little bit and pop the seeds into a bowl.The sauted  mushrooms add a really nice flavor to the salad.   Mushrooms are another super food, even the button mushrooms.  Like pomegranites, that are high in anti-oxidants, but also high in vitamin B and they enhance the immune system.  If you feel a cold coming on,  add lots of mushrooms into your diet!Ingredients:1 head of greens, washed and dried1/2 pomogranite1 carrot, shaved with a carrot peeler1/8 cup raw pumpkin seeds (or any nut or seed you have)3/4 cup of mushrooms1/4 cup white wineshaved parmigiano-reggianoolive oilbalsamic vinegarSaute mushrooms with a tbsp or two of olive oil for a few minutes.  Add the white wine and cook for about 10 minutes, until wine is reduced.  Let cool for a few minutes.Put salad in a medium sized bowl and add the carrots, pomegranates and pumpkin seeds.   Add the mushrooms and shave some parmigiano on top.   Mix the salad.For the dressing, I add 2 parts olive oil to 1 part balsamic and mix.