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Home » Uncategorized » Strawberry, Goat Cheese and Pecan Salad with Basil Vinegrette + A Giveaway!

Strawberry, Goat Cheese and Pecan Salad with Basil Vinegrette + A Giveaway!

Published: May 26, 2016 · Modified: Aug 19, 2022 by Ashley Lecker · This post may contain affiliate links · 12 Comments

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Today, I am teaming with a brand that makes one of my favorite products for a busy mom. I love cooking with fresh herbs and Gourmet Garden makes it possible for me to have delicious fresh flavors year round despite living in the frozen tundra!  My garden is full of herbs in the summer, but during the off season I still want those delicious flavors. Gourmet Garden has sponsored a few cooking challenges I have participated in over the past few years such as: #FreshTastyValentines, #HotSummerEats, #TripleSBites, and #10DaysofTailgate. A few of my favorite recipes created for these challenges are:
1) Seared Scallops with Processco Herb Beurre Blanc
2) Grilled Ribeye with Garlic Blue Cheese Mustard Sauce
3) Garlic Herb Burgers with Roasted Red Pepper Aoli and Feta
4) Pan-Seared Salmon with Citrus Sauvignon Blanc Herb Cream Sauce
The recipe above are just a small snap shot to showcase this great product. The herbs also have a longer shelf life and I feel like I am not wasting just to get a few tablespoons of basil. 
Gourmet Garden has generously offered to send one lucky reader a pack of 18 different herb products (12 stir-in pastes and 6 lightly dried).  This is the same prize pack that I have been able to work with and I assure you that you will really enjoy using their products of you have not had an opportunity already.  The pastes range from basil and garlic to a Thai blend and the lightly dried includes favorites like ginger, cilantro, and parsley. 
Today, I wanted to offer a different use for the stir-in paste and that is to make a dressing. The pastes are great for dressings because you get the fresh flavor, but do not have to breakout your food processor. Strawberry season is slowly approaching our area and after a long winter there are few things better than a warm sun-ripened strawberry right off the vine. I took Kellen picking last year and I think we ate more than we brought home! I wanted to showcase one of my very favorite flavor combinations- strawberry and basil. I love strawberry and basil together and it is usually something I love in a drink, but a salad is another great way to blend some of my favorite flavors. I added a little crumbled goat cheese for richness and candied pecans for a little sweet crunch (plain toasted work great too!). I also opted to use arugula for it's peppery bite, but feel free to use your favorite green. I made this salad to share with my family at a recent cookout at our home and everyone adored it- especially me. Even competing with the normal cookout sides it was the one bowl on the table that was completely empty at the end of the night! 
Enter using the rafflecopter below for a change to win and let me know what Gourmet Garden product you are most excited to try!  The giveaway is limited to U.S. and Canada readers. The giveaway runs till 5/26/16 to 6/1/16 and there are 3 different ways to enter- good luck everyone! 

Ingredients

5 oz fresh arugula (I use baby arugula for bite size portions)
4 oz crumbled goat cheese
½ cup candied pecans pieces (I find these by the salad area of my store, but plain toasted will also work)
1 cup fresh sliced strawberries
Basil Vinaigrette (see below)

Basil Vinaigrette
½ cup olive oil
3 Tbl apple cider vinegar
1 ½ Tbl Gourmet Garden Basil or finely chopped basil
1 ½ teaspoon honey
Salt and pepper, to taste


In a medium bowl whisk together ingredients. Season with salt & pepper or additional honey is desired. Set aside. 




Instructions

In a large salad bowl, gently toss together arugula, goat cheese, strawberries and pecans. Dressing with basil dressing or serve on the side.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous

    May 26, 2016 at 1:50 pm

    Kristin Goodson
    lilgoodson21@yahoo.com

    I would love to try the thai and chunky garlic paste. I love the cilantro paste! So easy to use and store. I also want to try the lightly dried variety of chives.

    Reply
  2. Jaida

    May 26, 2016 at 4:12 pm

    A stir-in paste for dressing sounds divine!!

    Reply
  3. Lori Hart

    May 26, 2016 at 5:11 pm

    I've used several of the stir in pastes and I would love to try the Thai seasoning paste. Looks delish!

    Reply
  4. Sarah B.

    May 26, 2016 at 6:05 pm

    The Thai paste sounds amazing. Then again, they all sound great!

    Reply
  5. dena

    May 26, 2016 at 11:07 pm

    Cilantro. Just used some cilantro I keep in the freezer and let's just say it was past its prime. 🙁

    Reply
  6. Melody Shingler

    May 27, 2016 at 2:28 am

    Lemon grass!
    I hate buying herbs after mine have baked in the garden by the middle of June here! Stir-ins sound like an ingenious way to have a different flavored mayo at the drop of a hat...
    Thanks for having this fabulous giveaway, Ashley!

    Reply
  7. Unknown

    May 27, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    I see these in the store but haven't tried them- it would probably be more practical for my family- I usually buy herbs and some go to waste

    Reply
  8. Unknown

    May 27, 2016 at 1:14 pm

    I see these in the store but haven't tried them- it would probably be more practical for my family- I usually buy herbs and some go to waste

    Reply
  9. amanda@craftycookingmama

    May 29, 2016 at 4:06 am

    I love these Stir-In Pastes & would love to try the lemongrass paste!

    Reply
  10. throuthehaze

    May 29, 2016 at 5:21 am

    I would love to try the ginger paste.

    Reply
  11. Lynn Gardner

    May 29, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    I've already tried several of the lightly dried herbs and a few of the tubes with yummy results, but I'd really like to try the lemongrass and the Thai (which are, as far as I can tell) not sold in any of the markets near me.

    Reply
  12. Melissa R.

    May 31, 2016 at 7:34 pm

    I'd love to try the Lightly Dried Ginger!

    Reply

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Hi, I am Ashley. I am a busy mom and wife working to make family, food, and life an adventure!

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