Beet Caprese Salad

Beet Caprese SaladBeet Caprese Salad //

Oh, don’t you just love that summer is approaching rather quickly? Even though we are only in the midst of this spring season, I am eagerly awaiting pretty summer days… filled with lazy pajama mornings, no frantic schedule, loads of time with the kids, endless amounts of sunshine, and light tasty dishes enjoyed alfresco! How about you?

Beet Caprese Salad Recipe via Simply Happenstance #capresesalad #beets

This light Beet Caprese Salad is the perfect dish to accompany a warm day! I’ve had variations of it recently, while dining out. I decided to start lunching on this homemade salad during our Spring Break, since I had a little more time to focus on healthy meals. The combination of fresh vegetables, flavorful basil, creamy burrata cheese, crunchy pine nuts and slightly tangy balsamic dressing is brilliant! Your tastebuds will surely do a happy dance! 

Beet Caprese Salad via Simply Happenstance

Beet Caprese Salad with a Balsamic Dressing (recipe on Simply Happenstance)

The preparation takes mere minutes if you start with pre-cooked beets (that would be my recommendation to you). I bought them in the refrigerator section at Trader Joe’s. The rest of the ingredients you can slice and layer into a bowl or platter to serve. You can omit the spinach leaves altogether, and serve this deliciousness as an appetizer (by itself), or as a topping on warm grilled bread to make bruschetta. 

Beet Caprese Salad (via Simply Happenstance)

Regardless of how you decide to serve/eat it… you will be delighted! The freshness of the ingredients and robustness of flavor really shines through! 

Print Recipe

Beet Caprese Salad

This deliciously fresh Beet Caprese Salad makes for an excellent first course or light lunch during the warmer months of the year!
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Lunch or Dinner
Cuisine: Salad
Servings: 2
Author: Simply Happenstance

Ingredients

  • SALAD //
  • 1/2 pound beets approx. 2-3 medium // scrubbed, steamed, cooled and sliced
  • 1 ripe avocado // skinned and cut into bite-sized chunks
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes or 1/2 pound heirloom tomatoes // sliced
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil // chopped or left whole
  • 8 oz. fresh burrata cheese //drained and cut into 3/4-inch pieces
  • 1/8 - 1/4 cup roasted pine nuts
  • 2 cups of fresh spinach // rinsed and dried
  • BALSAMIC DRESSING //
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • DRESSING //
  • Add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper together in a glass jar with a lid. Replace lid on the jar and shake vigorously until thoroughly combined OR mix in a small bowl using a fork to combine. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.
  • SALAD //
  • In a medium-sized bowl or platter, layer salad ingredients starting with the fresh spinach leaves.
  • Add the sliced beets, avocado, tomatoes, basil, burrata cheese, and pine nuts.
  • Drizzle on the balsamic dressing.
  • Serve and enjoy immediately!

Notes

* You can omit the spinach leaves and serve as an appetizer using the remaining ingredients. Eat this tasty beet caprese salad on its own, or serve with warm grilled bread (to make bruschetta).
* To make this recipe even easier, I purchased my beets all ready cooked and ready to eat from the refrigerator section of Trader Joe's.

 Enjoy, friends! The warm days of summer are drawing near! 
sarasignature3 copy

Avocado Toast

Avocado Toast Recipe simplyhappenstance.com #cleaneating #avocadosAvocado Toast //

So… I’ve been on a serious {carb-overload} toast kick. I can’t seem to shake it. I usually start my day with a healthy, protein-packed smoothie, but lately… all I crave is a warm cup of coffee and a buttery piece of toast. {Yikes!} Perhaps not the healthiest way to start my day {insert frown face}. I’ve noticed within an hour or two, my stomach is already growling. I decided it’s best not to fight my craving, but instead… let it ride out. After all, how long can this toast addiction of mine last?

So, in an effort to make my latest obsession a little more nutritious, I gave Gwyneth Paltrow’s recipe for Avocado Toast a try. It’s from her It’s All Good cookbook – a fave of mine! You guys… how have I not been eating this? Not only did I love it… but so did 3 out of 4 of my kids {success, right?}! It reminded me of my husby’s tasty homemade guacamole on toast! PERFECTION, I tell you!

Avocado Toast | simplyhappenstance.com #cleaneating #avocados

As you can imagine, the ingredients are super simple… some healthy bread, mayo, ripe avocados, sea salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon.  [Read more…]

Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches

Crock Pot Barbecue Chicken made simple. Perfect weeknight meal.:: Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches ::

I admit it; I get side tracked when it comes to meal planning.  My goal this school year is to use my slow cooker more often and make simple meals, such as these amazing Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches.  It became an instant favorite of mine, and what’s best of all… it makes enough for leftover’s depending on the size of your family.  Of course if all else fails, you can double the ingredients for this Barbecue Chicken and save some for later. Dinner is served! [Read more…]

Salsa Verde Turkey Chili

Easy crockpot salsa verde turkey chili. :: Salsa Verde Turkey Chili ::

Back to school, how can that be? Well it’s time to get back into the swing of things with easy weeknight meals like this Salsa Verde Turkey Chili.  Wow that’s a mouth full, but I promise if my first two days of school have any indication to the year ahead, the crock-pot is going to my new best friend. [Read more…]

Cheesy Tamale Pie

Easy and Super Cheesy Tamale Pie. Comfort food to the max.

:: Cheesy Tamale Pie ::

Life is a balancing act.  This Cheesy Tamale Pie is the perfect example of that.  I have made this recipe over a hundred times in my married life.  It is epitome of Mexican comfort food, but it also can be made as a healthier version when you need to cut back on the calories.  So don’t fear, you can enjoy this casserole while making your family as happy as “pie”… Cheesy Tamale Pie that is!

 Easy and Cheesy Tamale Pie. Comfort food to the max. [Read more…]

Couscous Salad

couscous salad

:: Couscous Salad ::

With or without chicken, now that is the question?  I would like to take a moment to be honest about meal planning.  Sara and I do love a good week of planned out meals and maybe that is something that you would love to see, but our lifestyle is not conducive to full planned out meals.  With both of us being married to firefighters, we are often on our own with the kids for dinner a few times a week.  This Couscous Salad is the exact type of last minute meal planning that I like to have on hand.  Simple and savory, chicken can be added last minute should Shane be home. This Couscous Salad also makes for the perfect Meatless Monday.

couscous salad [Read more…]