Recently, I’ve been feeling slightly guilty about going to the Minnesota State Fair and having a parade of ham sticks and beef jerky on rotation inside of my mouth.
Ehhhhh…let’s start over.
For the most part I’m a vegetarian. Not for health reasons, but like one of those saps whose heart is bleeding all over the place for the animals. What can I say? As little compassion as I have for my fellow human beings most of the time, I’m a sucker for a bunch of creatures that would happily feast on me if I was incapacitated and it was six minutes past dinner time. Yes, I will have a bite of bacon here and there and you’d be wise not to leave me alone with your plate of hot wings but I rarely buy meat dishes myself. My philosophy is that I don’t make room for more dead animals by ordering them in the first place.
Hypocritical? Perhaps. But I’ve reconciled it in my own head to where I’m pretty much a champion for the wild kingdom. Naturally, this comes with great responsibility. Whenever I find delicious meat substitutes, I feel compelled to share them. So that’s what I’m doing here today. I hope you’ll give this meal a chance and in the process, save a chicken!
Warm Goat Cheese Salad With Chik’n Strips
This is honestly soooo good and it’s also low in calories so you when you’re hungry and want to eat a real dinner later on, you won’t feel so guilty about it. Here’s what you’ll need:
Morning Star Chik’n Strips Mont Chevre Cranberry Cinnamon Goat Cheese
Spinach Leaves Pine Nuts
Baby Tomatoes Salt
Chopped Red Onions Black Pepper
Cranberries or Raisins Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
Olive oil
I don’t know the exact amounts. I’m thinking about as much of these items as you would put in a salad.
First cut three half inch slices of the goat cheese and place them on a tray to go in your toaster oven. I have all kinds of fancy settings on mine. I put it on convection at 400 degrees, which seems excessive, but they warm up pretty quick at that heat.
Next heat up six to ten strips in a pan over medium high heat with a little oil. Then toss all of your other ingredients in a large bowl and mix em’ all up. Usually I use pine nuts but I guess they’re out of season because I couldn’t find them at the grocery store which is OK because they’re super expensive. Actually, while we’re on the subject, do they grow these things on Mars? Cause seriously, they’re like eight bucks for a small bag.
But ANYWAY. I just bought a salad topper that had walnuts, sunflower seeds and cranberries in it. Also I chop my baby tomatoes in half.
Next, put your greens and everything else on a plate. After about four minutes, your chik’n strips (these are fake chicken strips for anyone who is confused) will be ready to add on top. Pull the goat cheese out of the oven and scoop them up to place around the sides.
Ta da!
A perfectly healthy and tasty dinner option with no blood on your hands!
Little chicken pic via Ryan Schain via loldamn.com