Chopped Salad with a Zingy Mustard and Maple Syrup Dressing that almost everyone can love!

Have you noticed how tricky it is to make everyone happy?? then try making everyone happy about eating greens!! this is about as close as you're going to get.  It's a happy salad - zingy and full of good things like fresh herbs (which will make almost anyone smile) and really any veggie you think you can get away with.  Don't stop with the veggies - try your favorite type of cheese, some toasted nuts, throw in some fruit - a handful of raspberries or some segments of grapefruit or orange - the culinary worlds your oyster. 

I'm committing to eating a salad a night -  hopefully it will deter me from diving into the freezer and consuming an alarming amount of Ben of Jerry's later in the evening. A successful salad is reliant on the dressing I believe.  If you've got the perfect dressing the salad will be eaten - otherwise - well - nobody's happy.  I think I've cracked it with this - if you're up to it give it a try and let me know!

Chopped Salad with a Zingy Mustard and Maple Syrup Dressing.

For the Salad; - this is a blueprint - use the ingredients you, your family and friends love.

Your favorite lettuce

Tomatoes

English (naturally) hot house cucumber

peppers - orange, yellow and red - a riot of color is always fun

red onion

fresh herbs - such as parsley, oregano, mint or basil (ideally all four)

jalapeno pepper

4-6 oz feta cheese - or other cheese you simply adore

toasted pumpkin seeds - because it's almost Fall  - or walnuts or cashews or any other nuts you LOVE.

any other veggies you can't live without - chopped

For the dressing:

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard (smooth)

3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Pinch of sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

1 scant tablespoon maple syrup

6-8 tablespoons olive oil

Chop all the salad ingredients and place in a bowl.

To make the dressing whisk together the mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper and maple syrup.  Whisk in the olive oil to make an emulsion. Taste and add more salt and pepper and perhaps a little more olive oil to taste.

Pour over the salad ingredients, toss together and devour.

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