Mango Blackberry Salad Two Ways

I was messing around with mangos last week and created two recipes inspired by a Martha Stewart salad we tried last summer. One salad was made with fresh buffalo mozzarella and the other was made with Brun-Uusto (bread cheese).  I am not sure which one I like better. The Brun-Uusto cheese is delicious grilled. It is buttery and chewy while the fresh mozzarella is light and tender. Try them and let me know which one you like better.

Salad Ingredients:

1 champagne mango

buffalo mozzarella or Brun-Uusto cheese (Juustalepia)

1 pint of blackberries

red onion

arugula

Cardamom dressing

1/4 cup white balsamic w/ lemon or squeeze lemon in.

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tsp cardamom pods (dry roasted & then break open pods & add seeds)

salt & pepper to taste

Version One: Juustalepia Salad

Cut the Brun-Uusto in chunks and then pan fry until completely heated through. Arrange the arugula on a plate with a few slices of red onion. Arrange slices of mango and cheese on the plate. Top with whole fresh blackberries and 2-3 tablespoons of the cardamom dressing. For this version I blended the dressing with 4-5 fresh blackberries. 

Version Two: Mango Mozzarella Salad

Arrange the arugula on a plate with a few slices of red onion. Arrange slices of mango and cheese on the plate. Top with whole fresh blackberries and 2-3 tablespoons of the cardamom dressing.

 

Oh, Olive! Two Balsamic & Fruit Salads

Last week my mother-in-law was in town and we strolled through the Glen on our way back from Little Bear Park with the girls. She spotted Oh, Olive! the newest branch of a fantastic olive oil and balsamic vinegar store owned by mother and son team Sandy & Aaron Schuenemann and business partner Mary Koval. We were instantly drawn in and found it hard to leave.

The store has dozens of oils and vinegars "on tap" ready for tasting. We did our very best to try as many as we could before settling on the Sicilian Lemon White Balsamic, Red Apple Balsamic, Espresso Balsamic, and the Wild Mushroom and Sage Olive Oil.  Below you will find my first recipes using my Oh, Olive! finds. Yum!


Espresso Balsamic & Fresh Organic Strawberries

Simple cut strawberries drizzled with Oh, Olive!Espresso Balsamic. Yummy!

Arugula & Watermelon Salad w/ Sicilian Lemon & Basil Vinaigrette

Ingredients:
3 cups baby arugula
4 oz cubed watermelon
1 TBS crumbled goat cheese
1 TBS toasted pine nuts
1-2 TBS Sicilian Lemon & Basil Vinaigrette

Dressing
1/4 cup Oh, Olive! Sicilian Lemon Balsamic
1/2 cup Meyer Lemon Olive Oil
2 medium size basil leaves
Salt & Pepper to taste
*processed together in a mini-food processor

Makes one lunch serving.

Oh, Olive! is online at http://oo2go.com/
or you can visit their fantastic store in the Glen at
1971 Tower Rd. Glenview IL, 60026