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Strawberry-Orange Vinaigrette & GIVEAWAY |
When I decided to quit my full-time job a few months ago, I think my husband had this sweet little vision that dinner would be ready an hour earlier each night and that evenings would be spent cuddling on the couch with him, not my laptop. I admit, I had a good feeling that might happen too. At least sometimes.
Two months later, I’m still ever attached to that computer in the evenings, rattling off recipes, editing photos and catching up on my friends’ blog posts. The problem (or blessing, as it truly is) is this little thing called flexibility.
Flexibility gives me the option of firing up the grill at 9 in the morning for chicken and veggies for a not-so-ordinary salad, and packing it up in the car for an afternoon visit to my bestie and her 3-week-old baby boy. That essentially leaves the grunt of the workload for “after hours” but who could resist?
For this layered beauty of baby spinach, lemon-herb chicken, grilled asparagus, sweet potatoes, mini sweet peppers, red onions, grapes, walnuts, and blue cheese, I whipped up a super easy low-fat dressing that I’ve since become addicted to. It’s a combination of ripe summer berries, zesty mustard and sweet, syrup-y balsamic vinegar tempered with NuNaturals Orange-Flavored Liquid Stevia. A touch of flax seed gives it a good dose of healthy fats and a creamier mouth-feel. Speaking of not being able to resist, my bff and I scooped up every last bite from that giant bowl. Maybe because grilled vegetables on salad are one of the most delicious things ever, or maybe just so we could taste more of the salad dressing.
This all-natural sweetener is one of two new liquid stevia products from NuNaturals. The other is a lemon flavor, which is great for flavoring my water for a little change of pace. But the orange, oh my- let’s just say that as a recovering orange-soda addict, I could quickly chug my way through an entire 2-liter bottle of club soda as long as I have my orange stevia around (a splash of lime juice helps too.)
I made this salad dressing again this weekend for a family bbq and my Aunt Jane made it crystal clear to me that I better post the recipe soon. Or else! So like the well-behaved niece I’ve always been (*smirk*) I happily obeyed. I think you’ll appreciate it too ๐
What would you like to do with these new flavors of stevia from NuNaturals? Let me know for a chance to win one of each! Please see full contest rules after the recipe.
And if you’re really feeling the giveaway mood, don’t miss my Attune Foods & Bob’s Red Mill #wholgrainbrunch giveaway!
Low-Fat Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette with Citrus and Basil
Yield: 18 servings, 2 tablespoons each
Ripe summer berries, sweet citrus, zesty mustard and syrup-y balsamic vinegar tempered with a touch of stevia. Flax seed adds a good dose of healthy fats and a creamy mouth-feel.
Ingredients:
1 cup chopped strawberries (140gm)
3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup grainy mustard (120gm)
1/4 cup basil leaves
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1 tablespoon orange-flavored stevia
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons ground flax seedDirections:
Combine all ingredients except for flax seed in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Add the flax seeds last and process to combine. Pour into a glass jar and store covered in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Facts:
Amount Per Serving
Calories 20.0
Total Fat 1.0 g
Saturated Fat 0.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.1 g
Cholesterol 0.0 mg
Sodium 100.2 mg
Potassium 19.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate 2.3 g
Dietary Fiber 0.5 g
Sugars 2.4 g
Protein 0.3 gCara Lyons, www.carascravings.com
For a chance to win one bottle each of the new lemon and orange flavored liquid stevia from NuNaturals, please complete any/all of the following tasks and leave a separate comment for each one. Winner will be chosen at random from all entries received by Wednesday, June 6th at 11:59pm EST.
- Leave a comment telling me what you would make with one or both of these stevia flavors
- Share this post on Pinterest
- Tweet about this giveaway with a link back to this post, mentioning @carascravings and @nunaturals (Ex: “Have you heard? New #stevia flavors from @nunaturals in Orange & Lemon. @Carascravings is giving them away! http://bit.ly/JSG9aI“)
Giveaway Rules:
No purchase necessary. The contest will close on Wednesday, June 6th at 11:59pm EST, at which point a winner will be chosen via random number generator. Winner must reside in the United States and supply a valid email address in the commenting form. Winner will be contacted and have 3 days to respond, at which point s/he forfeits the prize and another winner will be chosen. Winner will provide name, email address, shipping address and phone number and give me permission to supply this information to the sponsors of the giveaway items.
annie — June 1, 2012 @ 7:28 am
pinned!
annie — June 1, 2012 @ 7:30 am
orange creamsicle smoothie and lemon bars. YUMMY!
amy marantino — June 1, 2012 @ 7:47 am
i would flavor smoothies
amy marantino — June 1, 2012 @ 7:48 am
i tweeted (@onitnaram)
Renata — June 1, 2012 @ 7:53 am
I would try these in blended smoothies and yogurt!
Renata — June 1, 2012 @ 7:53 am
Tweeted too!
Ray — June 1, 2012 @ 9:39 am
I would try these in iced teas!
Kel — June 1, 2012 @ 9:58 am
Flavor smoothies is a great idea.
Lauryn V — June 1, 2012 @ 10:04 am
I would make a lemon bread or muffin.
Marcie — June 1, 2012 @ 10:10 am
I love your recipe, I would try that!
Marcie — June 1, 2012 @ 10:10 am
Pinned
http://pinterest.com/pin/35465915786053481/
Marcie — June 1, 2012 @ 10:12 am
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/marciebeth/status/208561553350467585
Juli — June 1, 2012 @ 10:37 am
Both would work for a vinaigrette or in a smoothie. I’m always trying to lighten up my husband’s favorites without him knowing so maybe in some blueberry muffins too…
Juli — June 1, 2012 @ 10:37 am
pinned!
Shaunna Ulrick — June 1, 2012 @ 10:38 am
I love this stuff. With the lemon I made no bake dough balls. ๐
Cara — June 1, 2012 @ 10:39 am
I need to know more about these dough balls. Please share ๐
Beverly — June 1, 2012 @ 11:18 am
Hmmmm, I might have to bake some coconut-citrus muffins with both!
Danielle — June 1, 2012 @ 11:39 am
I would love to try these in iced teas, as well as in a cheese cake type desert!
Sarah L — June 1, 2012 @ 12:23 pm
I love the idea of putting them in soda water! I’d also like to try baking with the liquid stevia. I love a little citrus flavor in my baked goods.
Elizabeth — June 1, 2012 @ 12:30 pm
I find myself adding citrus to everything– I bet the liquid stevia would work well in whoopie pie filling. Hmm…. is it too hot to bake tonight? ๐
chrysta — June 1, 2012 @ 12:44 pm
so excited about this giveaway. I love NuNaturals. I would make smoothies, dressings, put it baked goods…so many choices!
Vicki Cluxton — June 1, 2012 @ 12:56 pm
Both would help me de-sweet tea…a problem for me. With the flavoring and the stevia, Imthink it would get me on the track to weaning off my addiction for sweet tea!
Cate — June 1, 2012 @ 3:30 pm
Oh my god… that salad looks so good. I wish I had something like that for my lunch today! And I love stevia…. although I’ve only used unflavored so far. I like Vicki’s idea of adding it to tea. I’m a fan of Arnold Palmer’s so the lemon stevia would be perfect!
Corisa — June 1, 2012 @ 3:31 pm
By using the NuNaturals it can easily be used for lemon or orange zest too! It may even taste good on ice cream!
Katie — June 1, 2012 @ 3:44 pm
I love the idea of using them in dressing! I try to avoid the store-bought stuff (so.many.chemicals), so I’d love to try these out!
Katie — June 1, 2012 @ 3:45 pm
Pinned!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) — June 1, 2012 @ 7:28 pm
Wow Cara, this is beautiful! NuNaturals is my favorite alternative to sugar! It works perfectly and the flavor is amazing. The dressing sounds do delicious! I would definitely try that recipe out and I know NuNaturals works in my baked goods. I bet the orange flavor would go so well in my zucchini muffins!
Joanne — June 1, 2012 @ 7:49 pm
Flexibility…now that is definitely what I want in my life. Someday. At some point. ๐
This strawberry orange vinaigrette sounds delicious! I should probably make it because it will give me an excuse to eat salads nonstop…which, trust me, will be a good thing.
Alethea — June 1, 2012 @ 8:18 pm
That vinaigrette looks amazing! I would try the lemon NuNaturals in my sour cream blueberry muffins. YUM!
Kate — June 1, 2012 @ 9:16 pm
I think I’d be perma-attached to my computer at night, even if I quit my job. There’s too much other stuff to do during daylight hours.
Heather — June 1, 2012 @ 9:25 pm
This dressing looks de-lish – can’t wait to give it a try. I would try the NuNaturals in a variety of things, but mainly I have it in mind for a citrus cupcake recipe that I am working on.
Georgiana — June 1, 2012 @ 9:26 pm
I would try it in blended drinks and mix in plain yogurt
Heather — June 1, 2012 @ 9:26 pm
Pinned!
Katie — June 1, 2012 @ 9:28 pm
I would try it in smoothies, yogurt and that dressing sounds wonderful!
Marnely Rodriguez — June 1, 2012 @ 10:27 pm
I’d love to make a version of an Orange Julius!
Julia — June 2, 2012 @ 8:19 am
This salad looks sooooo delish!
Carol — June 2, 2012 @ 11:36 am
I’d make a smoothie!
lizzy — June 2, 2012 @ 8:12 pm
Wow, you can bring that salad to my house and play with my two week year old anytime. THAT LOOKS SO GOOD! I would try it in smoothies and baked goods!
Lisa — June 3, 2012 @ 9:35 am
I would make lemon squares and use it in my cranberry-orange scones recipes! Lemon and orange flavored liquid stevia is genius!!
grace — June 4, 2012 @ 6:05 am
an orange flavored sweetener MUST be used to make a dreamsicle float. or a dreamsicle cheesecake. or a batch of dreamsicle muffins. you get the idea. ๐
Jenny — June 6, 2012 @ 9:34 am
Yum, I think I’d try the orange in some hot chocolate or chocolate milk.
Megan — June 6, 2012 @ 12:31 pm
I would be trying it with seltzer – definitely could use less soda in my life ๐
Megan — June 6, 2012 @ 3:53 pm
I’d love to try them in seltzer!
Brittney Sacks — June 6, 2012 @ 6:46 pm
This salad looks unbelievable! I can’t wait to impress everyone at my next dinner extravaganza with this one! I would use the lemon stevia to make lemon, lavender, poppy seed sugar cookies with lemon icing. I have never pinned anything before or tweeted so this site is my first ever pin and tweet! I’m excited to finally be on the same page as the rest of the world. haha
http://pinterest.com/pin/75646468711584832/
kathy b — June 8, 2012 @ 11:50 pm
https://twitter.com/Katt8665/status/211304140717047808
tweeted!
kathy b — June 8, 2012 @ 11:51 pm
I’d like to try to muffins with these … I’ll have to think about it.