First and foremost, Happy New Year to you all!  We are on to a new year, new resolutions, and new conversations and I for one am ready to once again start conversations about Real Food for our families.

Salads have always been a hard sell at our house.  We’ve gone from mild disinterest, to actual forced gagging over the smallest bit of lettuce.  Sound familiar?  Thankfully, we’ve graduated to a casual acceptance and an understanding that salad will periodically be served, and yes, we must eat it.

So how can we make salad more enticing for young palates?  Is it to load it up with ranch dressing and croutons?  Honestly, maybe.  But let’s present another option that highlights the fresh produce rather than disguising it.  My favorite way to serve salad is “bar style” where the kids can build there own and feel empowered to choose new, fresh foods.  This week, I am adding Citrus Glazed Walnuts to our salad bar options.  These slightly sweet, crunchy nuts are a great addition and add lots of omega 3’s and protein to fresh salads.  Not to mention, they also make a great, wholesome snack all on their own.

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Citrus Glazed Walnuts

Special Equipment: foil/parchment lined baking sheet

Time: Prep – 5 minutes  Cook: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups walnut halves & pieces
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 tsp grapeseed oil
• 2 Tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice, divided
• 1/4 tsp Kosher salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a medium sized bowl, whisk together honey, oil, 1 Tbsp orange juice, and kosher salt.
• Add walnuts to mixture and toss to coat.
• Pour walnuts onto prepared baking sheet.
• Bake for 10 minutes, tossing half-way through cooking time.
• Remove from oven and immediately transfer into bowl.
• Pour remaining 1 Tbsp orange juice over toasted walnuts and toss to coat.
• Adjust salt if desired.

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May your 2013 be filled with love, laughter and lots of healthy new options for picky eaters!  Until next time…