I’ve been eating the culinary equivalent of a warm sweater for the past couple of weeks. Cookies, pancakes, chili, soup, burritos…you get it!
When I came upon this summer-inspired recipe for Romaine Salad with Chicken, Apricots & Mint last week, the clouds parted, the sunshine poured in, and I declared “bring on the bikinis!” Metaphorically speaking, of course. 
Homemade apricot-mint dressing is tossed with crunchy romaine lettuce, spinach and a multitude of toppings to make a light, refreshing and ultra-tasty salad.
I actually almost passed by the recipe because the ingredient list is rather long, but upon closer inspection I realized I had almost everything already on hand to make it. It was destiny! I followed the directions for the dressing, but went with my own topping choices, including dried apricots and pomegranates.
I had to look up how to process a pomegranate on my own site – I had totally forgotten how! I won’t lie – it’s kind of a pain in the butt to separate the arils, or seeds, from the skin but the results are soooooo worth it.
Confession: I ate the leftover pomegranate seeds like cereal with a spoon! They are so juicy!
The homemade dressing incorporates re-hydrated-dried apricots, mint and fresh orange juice, among other things, so I thought it’d be nice to throw a few orange segments on there too.
Segmenting an orange is super easy. All you do is cut off the top and bottom of the orange, then cut the rind off following the curve of the orange.
Finally, cut in between the segments and you’re in business!
This was like an explosion in my mouth! I know I keep saying this, but the fruit was SO juicy!
Other big players jazzing up this summer-inspired dinner included grilled chicken, marinated in some of the dressing,
and fresh mint! FYI – Trader Joe’s sells herbs for dirt cheap. I usually skip recipes with herbs in the winter, because the prices are so outrageous, but for under $2, I got a big ol’ tub o’ mint. The smell instantly took me back to sipping skinny mojitos on my front porch in the sweet summertime. 
Is is spring yet?!
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Speaking of warmer weather, get ready to enjoy an entire year’s worth of summertime’s signature snack…
Megan: Bunny Tracks are my favorite, yummy! Those triple chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches look so delicious too!
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Tonight = mission Christmas present organization. I’ve still got little piles of stuff laying around and I just need to buck up and put everything away. I have the terrible tendency to just get used to little piles if I don’t. Tell me it’s not just me?!
Have a great night!
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Can you believe New Years Eve is TWO DAYS AWAY?! How will you be ringing in 2011?
Ben and I are still undecided! Do we stay in, cook a nice dinner and celebrate with champagne? Or go out with friends? NYE has historically been a semi-disastrous night, so I’m leaning towards staying in. Maybe hearing about your fabulous plans will convince me otherwise though…
Go you!!! This salad looks fantastic!!
I’m going out with a whole bunch of girls downtown, but I’m not too excited about it. I would much rather celebrate at a friend’s house, but no one was throwing a party this year!
We’re staying in too- we might head to a local watering hole for a drink, but nothing too extravagent. Plus…we’re hoping to catch the DaVinci exhibit at the Science Center before it leaves town and I don’t want to be hung over for it!
Mmm…salad looks great!
To ring in the new year, my husband & I are going to a friend’s ski house. We are going to ski all day, and then either check out a local bar or stay in their cozy log home and pop some champagne.
I am always all for staying in, though. I love being home!
Salad looks amazing! I love fruit in my salads.
As for NYE, I actually wrote a whole post on the night. It has always been a let down for me –planning super big nights at bars and hotels but somehow always either missing midnight or taking care of people that are too drunk. I’m all for a classy, champagne filled, relaxed night in!
This post totally made me smile this evening! I had a big salad with dried cranberries, cabbage, blue cheese crumbles, cherry tomatoes, and a small piece of steak sliced thin. I love big salads for dinner. If you put enough veggies on their, it will fill you up.
PS: POM seeds are AMAZING in oatmeal!
I still can’t believe it is 2011!!!!
That salad just sounds and looks amazing!
My hubby and I are probably staying in. Our friends canceled their party due to not being able to finish some home remodeling projects. We are probably going to order some Jet’s Pizza (our favorite), and rent a bunch of redbox movies. Nothing grand, but I’m excited about it.
P.S. I was at a local fruit/vegetable market and they had SNACK SIZED HONEYCRISP apples, totally thought of you. They were so cute, I had to put them on my blog. They were like little baby Honeycrips.
That salad looks amazing! I need to strip off my sweater and soon.
NYE is typically a bust and I’m usually too tired (old) to care. We’re staying in, putting the kids to bed and watching a movie. 2011? Time is flying on by!
They sell pom seeds at Sam’s club in a tub! I think it is totally worth not having to get them out so I am willing to pay a little bit more, plus it saves me from staining whatever shirt I am wearing that day!
Yum! That salad looks amazing! And so bright and colorful after such a gloomy and dark day!
We’re actually having friends over for a nice, relaxing night in. I get paranoid about being on the road on NYE and all my friends have been invited to crash here and head home the next day.
Uh, YEAH! That’s why I prefer not to bring stuff into the house…otherwise it just gets left in piles on the floor and takes up permanent residence. Like these darn gift bags I got given in November, I’ve only just got around to making space for in a cupboard.
Gorgeous salad!
I feel the same way about NYE. It’s just not worth it. We have stayed home and had a small celebration with close friends for the past few years and it’s been perfect. I’m crossing my fingers that that is what ends up happening again this year.
NYE is not a night I want to be out on the roads. I would go to a place and party if I could stay, but driving is CRAZY!
Hope you decide to stay where ever you all are!
I am staying in and starting the new year off right!
Mmmm your skinny mojitos sound really yummy! Minnesota, of course, will be in the path of another winter storm/blizzard from Thursday night until Saturday. Sooooo… I’m not sure if we will make it to our destination Friday night. But the tradition is to go to our friends’ house (kids are invited too) to hang out and play games.
that chicken looks delectable. mmm. i’ll be celebrating at a friend’s house(i’m 26 and we still have sleepovers…neither of us is dating anyone right now though, so we justify it as girl-time). enjoy the holiday!
Your salad looks so bright & summery! SoDak’s right in the path of a monster blizzard starting later tonight & heading into tomorrow. Not that my husband & I had any NYE plans anyway, but I’m even worried about making it home from work okay (luckily I live close enough that I’m debating on just walking, instead of risking getting my car stuck somewhere)! We’ll do celebrating on Jan. 3rd, when our little boy turns 3!
yum – that looks amazing! For Xmas, we had a spinach salad – with the great pom and jicama and oranges – My friend’s grandaughter (3) kept asking for more seeds – it was adorable!
My husband and I will be staying in. Our tradition is to make yummy appetizers and watch a few movies. I can’t wait! Enjoy the holiday!
I’m horrible about piles, and I think we’re staying in this NYE. No plans. We were invited to a party, but it’s about a 40 minute drive, and I’m just not into that on NYE. Hope you guys have fun, whatever you decide!
I always tell people my NYE’s are cursed! lol I am also prone to bad luck. I remember last year my boyfriend at the time and I tried to take the romantic approach and went downtown to check out their firework display. Needless to say, we were so close that when I looked up firework debris was hitting me in the face! Then we had to suffer the terrible traffic and crazy drivers all the way home. I am all for staying in and avoiding that mess! Pizza, a movie, some champagne.. now THAT sounds like the perfect evening to me! Happy 2011!!
i’m actually not a huge fan of salads but BOY i could go for this one!
Salad looks awesome!!
For NYE we will be dining out with 4 other couples, our best friends, at an incredible Italian restaurant, while our 3 year old plays at our neighbors house. They will put him to bed at their house and we will come home after dinner, possibly have a drink and ring in the New Year with them, then scoop him up and move him to his own bed. Dinner out and NY at home, best of both worlds
“I’ve been eating the culinary equivalent of a warm sweater for the past couple of weeks.”
Heheh…That is hilarious!! And so right on.
This will further emphasize my inner nerd. I am going to Harry Potter with my best friend at 9 something, and will be watching it as midnight hits. Honestly, couldn’t imagine anything better. I’m not a big party person, so for me a nice movie with my bestie is where it’s at.
It’s.not.just.you. Those piles of presents are slowly dissapearing from my apt this week, but I still have a few more to go!!!
I’m headed to a swanky restaurant/bar that I’ve never been to called 28 Degrees. An intimate dinner with 2 other couples should prove a nice NYE. I say, GO out with friends! You and Ben can stay in and cook anynight! I know it is “amateur” night and all…haha. You don’t need to go buck wild, but you should def go out!!
Mmm, I love the sound of that dressing! The pom with it sounds so great as well. I’m ringing in NYE about as boringly as possible – with my mother and grandparents. Wooo frickin hoo.
We will be staying in. The metroplex is too crazy at New Years. I will be making another batch of your mom’s baked potato soup. We had it Christmas evening and it was a huge hit!! Tell your Mom thanks for all the great recipes. She is such the “Iowa Girl” too. Makes me homesick all the more. Have a safe and Happy New Year!!
[...] other news, my culinary sweater has been replaced with a faux-fur lined, uber-warm Eskimo jacket because I made the ULTIMATE [...]
Sounds delish! And I thought I should pass this on – I’ve heard Trader Joe’s sells already “shelled” pomegranate seeds!