This easy Arugula & Parmesan Cheese Salad makes for an easy first course or a very light lunch.
I crave salads. I can’t go more than a couple of days before I “need” one, and when I get it, I enjoy the heck out of it. Sometimes I crave a robust chopped salad and sometimes I want something simple and light, like this Arugula & Parmesan Cheese Salad. I love peppery taste of the Arugula and the crunch of warm Pine nuts in this salad…and of course the freshly shaved Parmesan. I eat a handful of the cheese while I assemble the salad, mmmm!
In addition to really enjoying salads. Sometimes I need a salad because….well, because cookies exist. I seriously love cookies. Only homemade cookies that is. I love making them, eating the dough (I don’t care who says what about that…I’ve been doing and enjoying the heck out of it since birth), I love the smell that fills the house and the excitement of my family.
Since the kids were toddlers, I try to keep the cookie jar full. I tell them, me filling the jar with cookies is me leaving behind my love…Sappy I know, however when you are a momma who works long days in corporate America and sometimes travels for business that simple act can make you feel a little bit better. Now that I work from home, I still try to keep the cookie jar full. Every time I hear the glass lid being put back in place onto the cookie jar, I smile. My jar has seen a lot of action since my kids were toddlers and I love it!!
My husband and kids love cookies hot out of the oven, while I like to wait until the next day. I can not even calculate how many times I have had cookies for breakfast, lol! Pizzelles are my favorite!! I swear I eat 100 of them in December, and 100 may be an understatement! I can not wait to make and eat them!!! So you can see why light salads like this Arugula & Parmesan Cheese Salad in November and December are a good thing for me! I have to save up as many calories as I can for cookies…It’s my yin and yang!
My daughter has always said “my savory stomach is full, but my sweet stomach is empty” I know where she gets that from lol! My sweet stomach when it comes to cookies, high quality salted dark chocolate caramels, Swedish Fish and Gobstoppers is never full….sigh.
Have a favorite salad or cookie for that matter?? Let me know. I am always looking to try new ones out! Right this minute I am dreaming about a robust chopped salad. I know what I am having for dinner tonight alongside a bowl of chili!!
Two of my favorite cookie recipes are Pizzelles (and old iconic Philadelphia Bakery recipe that I was lucky enough to be given decades ago) and what I call The Perfect Cookie. My son’s favorite are Pizzelles (just like his mama) and my Chocolate Chambord Cookies.
I have a ton of cookie recipes Pinned over on my Pinterest Cookie Board.
When it comes to salads, I love a good Cobb Salad! Here is my take on a Cobb Salad with Sriracha Ranch Dressing. Also, this Crispy Avocado Salad with Bacon & Tomatoes is seriously delicious!! If you dig calamari…try this Asian Crispy Calamari (it is SO good!!)
For all kinds of satisfying salads…Check out my Salad Pinterest Board…Yummmmm!
This simple Arugula & Parmesan Cheese Salad can be made more robust by adding some 1 inch rolls of Prosciutto (yum) and or croutons. If you enjoy fruit in your salad you could always add in some spiced roasted pear slices or sauteed figs!
Enjoy!
- ¼ cup grapeseed or olive oil
- Just a bit of lemon zest
- 1 TBS to 1½ TBS of fresh lemon juice
- 1 TBS honey (or more to taste)
- ½ tsp coarse Dijon Mustard (I like Grey Poupon Country Dijon)
- Salt and pepper
- Pine Nuts
- Arugula
- Fresh Parmesan Cheese shavings
- For the Dressing:
- Combine everything in a mason jar. Shake vigorously until emulsified.
- For the Salad:
- Toast Pine nuts at 275 degrees for 4-5 minutes, just until they begin to lightly brown, shaking pan halfway through.
- Toss arugula with the dressing, sprinkle on the pine nuts, and shavings of Parmesan Cheese.
- Serve and enjoy!
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