The holidays are over, and we’ve had our fill of rich calorie-laden feasts.

I thought it would be nice for our first salad of the year to be light and refreshing.

I found this recipe for Celery Salad with Apples, and I knew it was the perfect start to a new year.

Here is the link, https://www.acouplecooks.com/celery-salad-with-apples/

A Couple Cooks is an incredible website featuring recipes by Sonja and Alex Overhiser from their cookbook, A Couple Cooks - Pretty Simple Cooking: 100 Delicious Vegetarian Recipes to Make You Fall in Love with Real Food.  

Honestly, I fell in love with how quick, easy, and delicious this recipe is and how beautiful it looks on the plate.

I had all the ingredients in my kitchen. No trips to the grocery store searching for expensive or obscure ingredients I would only need a teaspoon or tablespoon of. Thinly slice celery and apples, make the simple, but tangy dressing, and garnish with shredded parmesan.

I made a few substitutions. Instead of white wine vinegar, I used Champagne Vinegar, and I also used a Braeburn Apple instead of a red apple. The shredded cheese I had on hand was a mix of Asiago, Romano, and Parmesan. Finally, I added a few walnuts as an extra garnish and an additional source of protein,  B vitamins, and minerals such as manganese, magnesium, and zinc.

You can easily make this vegetarian salad Vegan by omitting the cheese or using a plant-based Parmesan alternative.

It would also be delicious served with chicken breasts or chicken strips. For more color, you could add raisins, dried cranberries, or mandarin orange segments.

I will definitely make this recipe again and you will be seeing other salad recipes from A Couple Cooks as our year of salads progresses.

Our February salad will be Strawberry Avocado Salad, the perfect salad to serve on Valentine’s Day!

This year I’m revealing the entire year for you, so you know what we have planned. An exceptional recipe is what gives meals that special something, and I think you’ll be pleased with our selections.

The Twelve Months of Salads

January – Celery Salad with Apples

February - Strawberry Avocado Salad

March – Spring Pea, Asparagus and Mint Salad

April - Spring Salad with Edamame, Cucumbers. Snow Peas and Tofu Croutons

May – Southwestern Bean Salad

June – Salad Niçoise

July –  Blueberry Cucumber Summer Salad with Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette

August – Italian Pasta Salad

September – Chicken Garden Salad with ranch dressing

October – Kale, Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad

November – Hearty Farro Salad

December – Vegan Soba Noodle Salad