We are not food photographers. The picture does not do this fresh, delicious salad justice.
Welcome to Foodie Friday, dear reader. We have another week behind us and a holiday to look forward to. Today, I will share my final strawberry-themed recipe. I have decided this summer will be a collection of recipes with ingredients sourced from either local farmers or Ligonier Country Market vendors. Last Saturday, I sourced all the ingredients for a grilled chicken salad with homemade strawberry vinaigrette. It was a delicious and easy meal. I was quite pleased with the results, and The Bibbed Wonder requested I make it again.
As you know, I have a great appreciation for The Ligonier Country Market and its many talented vendors. Armed with a recipe and a shopping list, I was able to gather all my ingredients from just a few vendors. I wanted to source as much from the market as possible for my summer recipe collection. I was not disappointed, dear reader. I was able to purchase everything from the olive oil and honey for the dressing to the chicken, berries, and salad greens. Everything I bought was organic and clean; I believe I had the freshest ingredients possible. It was delightfully easy to check everything off my shopping list with just a few stops.
I began by purchasing olive oil from Liokareas. This oil is unlike anything you will find in grocery stores. The taste is clear and fresh. I was skeptical that there would be a difference between Liokareas and a good-quality oil I buy from the grocery store. I was pleasantly surprised and will not return to using my old olive oil brand. The young man who works the booth at Ligonier is knowledgeable about his product and happy to tell you all about their family business.
I then went on the hunt for fresh produce. I trust my friend Christina Moore, who is Confections by Christina, for advice on where to find the best produce. Christina suggested I check out her friends from Savage Mountain. My list included blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, salad greens, and red onions. I found all my produce at the Savage Mountain booth. The folks who are Savage Mountain are good, salt-of-the-earth people who farm with integrity and care. They helped me pick out the best produce, made suggestions, and were lovely to talk with.
Next on my list was chicken. My husband used to raise Cornish-cross chickens and take them to the market to sell. However, after the first year, several others also began selling chicken. The time, effort, and overflooded market did not make it a financially sound decision. The difference between fresh, farm-raised chicken and the chicken in the grocery store is vastly different. The freshness, juiciness, tenderness, and flavor of a bird that has been raised free-range, fed a clean, natural diet, and allowed to grow and mature as God intended is worlds apart from what we find in grocery stores. The poor birds born into the factory farming industry have no semblance of a normal, healthy life. They are housed in cages or large, overcrowded buildings. They never see sunlight, breathe fresh air, or run around eating bugs and exploring. In my opinion, it is systemic abuse, but that is a topic for another day. I purchased my chicken from Nature's Grove Farm, our neighbor across the way at the market. I will say the medium breasts I bought were extraordinary. I highly recommend them. You will pay considerably more for their meat than you would at WalMart, but there is absolutely no comparison. I can't encourage you enough, dear reader, to know your farmer and their practices.
For my recipe, I also needed honey. Although I did not purchase honey this week, I had "squirreled away" a beautiful jar of Pisarcik Flower Farm wildflower honey from our fall event. Pisarcik's wildflower honey is THE best honey I have ever had. This beautiful family grows the most gorgeous flowers, and the family is the absolute sweetest. We love them. You will find their wildflower honey at their stand in Ligonier. The packaging is so cute; they top the jars with beautiful, colorful fabric. It is an adorable presentation.
Now that I am done gushing about all the goodness found at The Ligonier Country Market allow me to share the strawberry vinaigrette recipe I created on my own. I thought it turned out well. It was straightforward and, oh, so delicious. The taste of the fresh strawberries really shines in this easy salad dressing.
Tina's Strawberry Vinaigrette
1 Quart Strawberries, washed and hulled
2 TBLS. Olive Oil
2 TBLS. Honey
2 TBLS. Apple Cider Vinegar
1 tsp. Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Place all ingredients in a blender.
Blend on high until it is smooth.
Refrigerate until ready to use.
If it is too thick for your preference, you may add more olive oil.
I grilled my chicken breast, seasoning it with salt and pepper. I really wanted the strawberry vinaigrette to be the star of this salad. I also included cheddar cheese curds, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries in the salad, along with hard-boiled eggs and freshly cut fries cooked in the air fryer. It was an easy, satisfying, and delicious meal. I rounded out the meal with fresh sourdough bread from Seasons of Sourdough.
If you can attend The Ligonier Country Market, I gently encourage you to explore all the fresh foods available there. There is so much more to enjoy than produce. One can complete their weekly shopping with fresh, local vendors and never have to set foot in a big chain store. Enjoy it while it lasts, dear reader; we are a quarter of the way through the market season.
I hope you enjoy my strawberry vinaigrette recipe. Please let me know what you think if you try it. I enjoy reading your feedback and suggestions. On this lovely summer day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy fresh, local food raised with integrity and care, and keep washing your hands.
Here is a link to The Ligonier Country Market. Feel free to explore all the wonderful vendors, talented artists, and producers located in one lovely market setting.
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