Strawberry Raspberry Feta Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette

I had an utterly horrifying realization while lazing my way around the farmer's market this weekend. The amazing season of fruits and vegetables will be over in not too long. This left me feeling like I desperately needed to stock up on all the summer's bounty. It resulted with a ridiculous amount of cherries, strawberries and peaches in our fridge. Then my mom dropped off a gallon of raspberries from her garden. Oye!

Needless to say, we've been bingeing on berries this week.....

 When I was younger I remember berry binges, particularly on cherries. My sister and I would gorge ourselves with them, spitting the suckled pits at each other vindictively all the while. Our parents would warn us that we'd get sick, but like glutinous little beasts we'd eat every sweet cherry down to the last stem. Then we would indeed get sick, and rub our distended stomachs in dismay all night. But it was SO worth it.

I've been creating a new salad every week, because I've been getting tired of my old stand-by salads for lunch. Here's one that uses a plentiful lot of the beautiful red berries of the season.

Strawberry Raspberry Feta Salad

-1 cup Spring Greens

-3 mint leaves, chopped

-2 large strawberries, chopped

-1/2 cup raspberries

-1 T. feta cheese

Directions: place in bowl

Vinaigrette:

-1/2 cup unsweetened frozen raspberries, thawed
-1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
-2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1- tablespoon honey

-pinch salt and pepper

Directions: place ingredients in a blender and blend until combined. Makes 4 servings of dressing.

*To make vegan, omit honey and add agave nectar

This salad is chock-full of the fleeting flavors of summer. 

Potent mint and the salt of the feta draw out the sweetness of the berries and dressing to make it an elegant and easy side or main course.

Enjoy!