Strawberry Spinach Salad

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• 1/3 cup Olive oil
• 3 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 clove Garlic
• 1/2 tsp Dried basil
• 1/4 tsp + 1 pinch Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Salted butter
• 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
• 1/2 cup Pecans
• 8 oz Strawberries
• 1/4 each Red onion
• 2 oz Feta
• 8 oz Spinach

1. Start by making the homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic clove, dried basil, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper to a jar, bowl, or blender. Close the jar and shake the ingredients together, whisk in a bowl, or blend until the dressing is evenly combined. Set the dressing aside.
2. Next make the candied pecans. Add the butter, brown sugar and a pinch of salt to a small non-stick skillet. Heat over medium heat while stirring.
3. Once the butter and brown sugar begins to melt add the chopped pecans to the skillet and stir with the brown sugar mixture. Continue to cook over medium heat, stirring every 10-15 seconds until the brown sugar fully melts (looks glossy instead of grainy) and completely coats the pecans.
4. Remove the skillet from the heat immediately and transfer the candied pecans to a parchment lined baking sheet. Spread the pecans out evenly in a flat layer and allow them to cool for 10 minutes while the candied coating fully hardens.
5. Now prep the strawberries, red onion and feta cheese. Remove the stems and slice the strawberries, thinly slice the red onion, and crumble the feta. Set these ingredients to the side.
6. Divide the spinach between four plates. Drizzle 2 Tbsp of balsamic vinaigrette on top of each bed of spinach.
7. Add sliced strawberries, red onions, a tablespoon or two of candied pecans, and a tablespoon of feta cheese to each salad. Feel free to drizzle a little more balsamic vinaigrette over the top of each and enjoy!