Spinach salad has enough festive color to dazzle any holiday buffet

Terrible to love a food passionately yet to be allergic to it. Hubby craves strawberries, but alas, let one stray strawberry seed wend its way into his digestive system, and for days he pays an awful price. His diverticulitis doesn't seem to react to any other type of seed—he can eat seed-infused kiwi, tomatoes, even raspberries and blackberries to his heart's delight and have no reaction, but he literally can be on the same city block as a strawberry and feel its gastrointestinal after-effects.

So, if I'm yearning to prepare some food item that contains strawberries, I have to do it for a covered-dish meal at which PLENTY of other choices are available, so he's not tempted to dig into whatever I've fixed and so it's not the only food item on the menu, leaving him stranded.

For such a reason I had carefully picked out Spinach Salad with Berries and Almonds as one of the food items to bring to my cousin's holiday family gathering. I long had had this delightful dish on my to-prepare wish list, but I wanted to be sure Hubby wasn't squeezed into a corner with no other salad options. At this family food fest I knew he'd never even glance in the direction of the strawberries because the other salads, prepared by our family's good cooks, would be so enticing.

The reason I chose this dish for holiday season is because it looks like a holiday (not to mention its health benefits). Green spinach, red berries, and the white feta cheese represent a great choice for a buffet. The delightful dressing made with raspberry vinegar and sugar-free raspberry jam is a terrific coating. On my recipe, which I once clipped from the Dallas Morning News, I previously had written, "No words to describe how great this is!" I stand by my story. I believe you will, too—setting it aside for your next year's holiday "must" file—or preparing it for any of your gatherings still ahead in those few days of 2010 remaining.

Spinach Salad with Berries and Almonds

6 cups baby spinach

1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/3 cup sliced almonds

1 cup fresh strawberries (can also use raspberries)

2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar

2 tablespoons sugar-free raspberry jam

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon honey

In a large bowl combine spinach, feta cheese, nuts, and berries. In small bowl whisk together vinegar, jam, mustard, and honey. Drizzle dressing over top of the salad and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Cranberry show-stopper perfect, healthy jewel for Christmas bring-a-dish evet

Want an absolute show-stopper for a Christmas bring-a-dish event? This one can't be beat—and to think it's been languishing in my Christmas recipe file (untried) for years on end. What was I thinking?

Waldorf Salad was a biggie in my growing-up family, so the very idea of preparing this dish was akin to comfort food for me. But the addition of cranberries lifted this past the prosaic and made it an exceptional creation. Thanks to Mature Living magazine for this recipe that I clipped out and saved for—well, just for this very day.

The cranberries' slightly tart taste are a nice counterpoint to the sweet grapes, apples, and the dressing created simply from nonfat vanilla yogurt, sugar substitute, and cinnamon.

The combination of the greens and reds from the fruit mixture make a perfect Christmas accompaniment. Tucked in a pretty cut-glass pedestal bowl of my mother's, I can't imagine anything more party-worthy.

Cranberry Waldorf Salad

1 1/2 cups chopped cranberries

1 cup chopped red apple

1 cup chopped cleery

1 cup seedless green grapes, halves

1/3 cup raisins

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

2 tablespoons sugar (or sugar substitute)

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

8 ounces nonfat vanilla yogurt

Combine all the ingredients. Toss to coat. Cover and chill 2 hours. Stir just before serving. Makes 8 servings.