Spinach Apple Carrot Salad

Are you searching for a quick, last minute addition to your holiday meal? One that will help you feel a bit more virtuous as you stuff yourself with treats and heavy fare? Allow me to help. This salad was born out of my desire to eat salad again. Salad and braces are a tough combo, mostly because most salads are full of big crunchy raw veggies and nuts, and that doesn't really work. I wanted to try this homemade honey Dijon vinaigrette recipe I read on a blog, and started wondering if there was a way I could jazz up my usual "just spinach" salads (minimal crunch). Then it occurred to me to do something I used to do when the girls were very small and not able to eat crunchy raw veggies--bust out my box grater. I grated up some apples and carrots, tossed them with the spinach and drizzled on the dressing. This salad is saving me right now. I eat it every day, and I can't get enough. You probably have everything you need in your fridge or pantry right now, so you may not even have to go to that hell on earth that is the grocery store right before Christmas (ask me how I know this. Who runs out of vanilla extract two days before Christmas?? Ugh). Merry Christmas, Friends!

Apple, Carrot, Spinach Salad

• dressing from thrivinghomeblog.com
• salad combo my creation

Honey Dijon Vinaigrette:

(This dressing is so versatile and delicious. Keeps well in the fridge, so you may want to double)

• 3 T apple cider vinegar
• 3 T honey
• 1 T. Dijon mustard
• 1/3 c. olive oil
• salt/pepper to taste

Whisk everything together and you're good to go

Salad:

• Baby spinach (or spring greens work well. Use something delicate)
• Carrots
• Apples, cored and quartered.

Use large holes of box grater to grate desired amounts of carrots and apples. I generally go for an apple per person (you lose a lot b/c you can't grate it down completely to the skin without compromising your knuckles), and 1/2 large carrot. Toss with desired amount of dressing.