'SPRING - EXPERIENCE IN IMMORTALITY' ~ GRILLED ROMAINE SALAD

"Spring - An experience in immortality."

~ Henry D. Thoreau

Flowering Norway Maple

(Acer platanoides)

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GRILLED ROMAINE SALAD

(with Charred Tomato Vinaigrette)

~ Grilled Romaine! Give it a try ... from Chandler's (Petoskey) comes this robust 'gearing for spring' salad.

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4 Tbsp. olive oil (extra-virgin)

4 romaine hearts

1 cup feta cheese

1 cup assorted nuts: almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.

Dressing

Preheat grill. Brush romaine hearts with olive oil and char on grill until blackened all over, but not excessively so. Assemble grilled leaves on plate and drizzle with Dressing. (4 servings)

Dressing:

6 tomatoes

1 juiced lime

1/2 red onion

1 rough chopped bunch cilantro

2 Tbsp. srirachi

(Thai-style hot sauce made from sun ripen chilies ground into a smooth garlic paste found in the Asian food section)

1 cup olive oil

1/2 cup white wine or Champagne vinegar

3 Tbsp. stone ground mustard

Char tomatoes on hot grill until black. In food processor, pulse tomatoes, lime juice, red onion, cilantro and srirachi until smooth. In separate mixing bowl, whisk mustard and vinegar together, then slowly drizzle olive oil while continuing to whisk. Combine with tomato mixture and store in refrigerator.

"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."

~ William Shakespeare

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Beauty & the Beast ~ BEWARE:

"Once established into a forest, it has the ability to shade out the native understory and out-compete the native tree species."

Visit: Invasive.org