Red Grape and Arugula Salad with Bacon and Avocados

GRAPE, AVOCADO AND ARUGULA SALAD

Cook's notes: This Grape, Avocado and Arugula Salad is full of amazing fresh flavors and is a healthy choice. Recipe inspiration comes from gimmesomeoven.com and cuisineathome.com Salad serves 6.

Cooking tip-So the avocado doesn't get mushy add it to salad after tossing the arugula and grapes with the vinaigrette.
Salad

• 4 slices thick sliced bacon, cooked and diced
• 6 cups fresh arugula, loosely packed
• 2 cups halved seedless grapes, red or green or a mix
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
• 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts or pecans
• half a small red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
• balsamic vinaigrette (ingredients below)

White Balsamic Vinaigrette Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 TB. white balsamic vinegar (or traditional balsamic vinegar)
• 2 TB. honey or agave nectar, to taste
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/8 tsp. freshly-cracked black pepper

Directions:

• Make vinaigrette dressing in a blender. Pour dressing into a screw top jar and refrigerate several hours for flavors to meld. Be sure to shake jar well before serving.    
• Add salad ingredients to a bowl, and drizzle with vinaigrette. Toss to combine. Serve immediately with Grilled Garlic Bread with Parmesan and Chives.

Grilled Garlic Bread with Parmesan and Chives

Beat

• 1 stick softened butter
• 3/4 -1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup minced fresh chives or scallions
• 1 TB. minced fresh garlic
• 1/4/ tsp each salt and pepper

Spread

• Spread butter mixture on both sides of 8 bias sliced pieces French bread. Grill bread uncovered until grill marks appear about 1 minute per side. 

• Rembrandt Harmenszon van Rijn, Dutch painter and etcher. He is generally considered one of the greatest painters and printmakers in European art and the most important in Dutch history. (July 15, 1606-October 4, 1669) 
• Clement Clarke Moore, author of A Visit from St. Nicholas (July 15, 1779-July 10, 1863)
• Richard Willard Armour, poet and author (July 15, 1906-February 28, 1989)