Colorful Autumn Salad

Looking to add a fresh twist to your holiday or weeknight dinner? Elevate your salad game with this Colorful Autumn Salad, designed to bring an exciting burst of flavor and texture to your green salad. This recipe features the delightful combination of chopped dried apricots and dried cherries, adding a touch of tart sweetness, vibrant colors, and a delightful chewy texture. To take it up a notch, we sprinkle it with crumbled cooked bacon (because bacon makes everything better) and crumbled goat cheese. And guess what? It's a salad that kids can actively participate in making, from measuring the dressing ingredients to potentially slicing the romaine with age-appropriate knives.

• Ingredients: For this vibrant salad, you'll need:
  • Balsamic-Shallot Dressing:
    • 1 finely minced shallot
    • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • A dash of kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • For the Salad:
    • 1 hearts of romaine
    • 3 cups baby spinach leaves
    • 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
    • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
    • 1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese
    • 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon