There are so many smells I love in the kitchen — homemade bread, freshly cut pineapple, any sort of roasting garlic — mmm, the list goes on and on… But if I were ever forced to pick an absolute favorite, there would be no contest. My answer would be two simple words:

Sesame oil.

My heart may or may not skip a little beat each time I get to reach in the cabinet for that fabulous little bottle of goodness. :) It’s divine!!

Thus, to offer a slight alternative on the standard balsamic and strawberry salad, I recommend this little gem of a recipe. It’s great for fruity salads, marinades, and whatever else you can dream up. And its delightfulness is, of course, all due to the you-know-what. Enjoy!!

Sesame Strawberry Salad Recipe
(Adapted from All Recipes)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried minced onion
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 bunches fresh spinach – chopped, washed and dried
• 1 pint strawberries, halved

Method:

1. Whisk together the sugar, sesame seeds, sesame oil, poppy seeds, dried onion, paprika, oil and vinegar. Refrigerate until chilled.
2. In a salad bowl, combine the spinach and strawberries. Drizzle with dressing, toss lightly and serve.

Ali’s Tip:
If you have a toaster oven, it’s the best place to toast up a batch of nuts! So much easier than dealing with preheating a full-sized oven, and preparing/cleaning a full-sized cookie sheet. :)