Autumn Salad Bar

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I am really excited about this whole salad bar, potato bar, 'what have you' bar idea!  And apparently, so is my 6-yr old.  "Cool salad bar, mommy!"So many reasons:

• If you plan for two bars in a row, such as salad bar Thursday, potato bar Friday, just chop everything up in advance for both nights (and it need not be much - let's keep things simple!)

• Kids are often more willing to branch out when they are choosing and serving themselves. My kids focused on the pecans, bacon, cranberries and, thank goodness, lettuce. The figs and butternut squash were a little too obscure, I guess ;)

• Wouldn't this be perfect for a girls' night? shower? any gathering?

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Ingredients:

• bacon, diced (~2-3 slices per person)

• fresh figs, halved

• butternut squash, cut into bite-sized pieces (mine was pre-cut from Trader Joe’s)

• dried cranberries

• toasted pecans

• crumbled goat cheese (or feta, gorgonzola, your favorite…)

• romaine lettuce

• turmeric-mustard dressing

Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat, stirring from time to time, until crispy.

Toss the squash in a little gently melted coconut oil and bake on 350 for about 20-25 minutes til nice and roast-y.

Set up your salad bar and enjoy!

Shared on The Nourishing Gourmet’s Pennywise Platter 9/19.