Berry Salad with an Easy Raspberry Yogurt Dressing
In this Berry Salad with an Easy Raspberry Yogurt Dressing, crisp lettuce is topped with raspberries, blueberries and walnuts. Tossed with a delicious raspberry dressing, this salad is refreshing and filling.
We were all REALLY looking forward to spring break this year. I don’t know if it was the freezing cold winter we had, or the fact that we planned this trip over a year ago, but we were ready!
We started out the trip in Marco Island. Matt’s parents had rented a condo there, so we stayed with them for a couple of nights before we headed to our weeklong rental.
Marco Island was absolutely beautiful – the beach was just loaded with shells and the boys had an absolute blast looking the best ones.
The place we stayed had a great little pool area so, naturally, we spent the majority of our day there. The boys alternated between swimming, cannonballs, and telling me they were hungry. It was perfect!
As we left Marco Island, we had bought tickets to see a Twins spring training game. We were a little worried that the game wouldn’t happen since their was a labor dispute going on but, lucky for us, they came to a consensus just in time.
It was so much fun to take Jack and Will to the Twins spring training stadium. It was a HOT day, like 90 with the sun just beating down, so I was a little worried how the kids would do. They thoroughly impressed us and were cheering all the way through the 9th inning.
We even got there early with the hopes of getting a signature or two. Jack was next in line to get Max Keplers signature but then the announcer called him out on the field. Jack was so bummed!
But his sadness quickly dissipated when he had a lemonade in one hand, cotton candy in the other and was watching the Twins win. It was such a memorable day – I was so thankful to be able to do such a fun thing with our boys!
After we were all officially drenched in sweat, we made our way down to Anna Maria Island! I found a super cute rental home on Airbnb, complete with our own private pool (and 2 bedrooms). Anyone with children knows the importance of a 2nd bedroom on vacation!
Anna Maria Island was so great – a perfect little beach town. We had so much fun just walking around town and taking in all the beautiful homes and landscaping. We “toured” every ice cream shop on the island and made not one, not two but three stops at The Donut Experiment. If you ever find yourself in Anna Maria Island, The Donut Experiment is a must visit!
The pool at our Airbnb was the show stopper. It was so incredibly well done. From the pool itself, to the landscaping, it was just so nice. Having it all to ourselves made such a difference. We could spread out our things wherever we wanted, without needing to pick everything up at night.
The second the boys woke up, they asked if they could go swimming. Instead of always having to say “not yet” because we have (fill in the blank) to do, we could just say “sure” and out the door we went to the pool.
Matt and I would sit poolside sipping coffee while the boys jumped away. I mean, does it get any better?!
The beaches on Anna Maria Island are so incredibly beautiful. The sand is super fine and soft and it was just a 2 block walk from our rental. Our Airbnb had a beach wagon, chairs and sand toys, so we were perfectly set.
One of our favorite things to do, no matter the season, is to be out on the water. With frozen lakes in Minnesota, we took advantage of the open waters of Florida.
One day, we decided to rent a boat and explored the backwaters. It was so much fun! We were able to pull up to a couple of oceanside restaurants and dock our boat. Being able to walk from a boat to a restaurant just feels so fun.
As the day went on, the wind really picked up. Which made the waves really pick up. Which made my anxiety really pick up. As we headed back to drop off our boat, Matt had to drive super fast so that our boat wouldn’t tip. It was a little hairy (the boys and I were hanging onto each other for dear life), but we made it back safe and sound.
Another day, we took the boys out on a fishing excursion. Matt chose an awesome fishing guide – he specialized in fishing charters with kids. Jack was a little nervous when we got out on the water (he was very afraid of sharks), but once we reassured him that sharks didn’t come in the backwaters, he was all in.
On the other side of the spectrum, Will was hoping he caught a shark. The difference between my children is INSANE!
We had such a fun day on the water. The four of us caught a total of 9 fish – snook, sea trout, mangrove snapper and jack! And, it had to be mentioned, I out-fished all the boys!
All in all, this was such a wonderful vacation. Anna Maria Island, we will be back!
With warmer temps finally making their way into Minnesota, we all need to get ready for berry season! There is truly nothing better than some freshly picked berries – they just taste so much better than store bought.
This Berry Salad with an Easy Raspberry Yogurt Dressing is not only topped with those freshly picked berries, but they are also used to make the dressing.
Blueberries and raspberries sit atop a bed of lettuce. Garnished with walnuts, everything is tossed with a creamy raspberry dressing to make the fresh berries the star of this salad.
Try These Other Delicious Recipes!
How to Make Candied Walnuts
Now, if you are short on time, by all means just toss some walnuts on top of your salad. They will still add a delicious crunch. But, if you want to elevate them a bit, try candying them! It’s very simple – all you need is some walnuts, sugar and a pan.
Heat the pan over medium heat and add the walnuts. Sprinkle some sugar over the walnuts (I recommend 1 Tbsp sugar per 1/4 cup walnuts) and stir everything together. The sugar will slowly start to melt, effectively caramelizing the walnuts. They are the perfect topper for this Berry Salad with an Easy Raspberry Yogurt Dressing!
Love Salads? Try some of these:
Berry Salad with an Easy Raspberry Yogurt Dressing Ingredients
- lettuce
- raspberries
- blueberries
- walnuts
- sugar
- creamy raspberry dressing (see below)
Easy Raspberry Yogurt Dressing Ingredients
- raspberries (fresh or frozen)
- raspberry vinegar
- white sugar
- Dijon mustard
- plain greek yogurt
- onion powder
- vegetable oil
How to Make the Easy Raspberry Yogurt Dressing
- Mash the raspberries in a container and pour the raspberry vinegar on top.
- Let the raspberries and vinegar sit for at least 10 minutes. Then strain out all the raspberry seeds.
- Combine the remain ingredients in a blender and blend until fully combined.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve!
Versatile Toppings
One of the great things about this Berry Salad with an Easy Raspberry Yogurt Dressing (besides it being delicious), is the versatility of it. The dressing really lends itself to all different kinds of toppings.
You can use different types of fruit that you have on hand. Some ideas include: apples, mandating oranges, strawberries, pears, etc
If you are cheese lover, some feta cheese, blue cheese or shredded parmesan would be delicious!
And, if you are wanting extra protein, adding some shredded chicken would be a delicious idea.
Healthy, Quick & Easy Recipes
Whenever I ask my readers what types of recipes they would like to see more of, the resounding answer is always “quick and easy dinners”. I always like hearing that answer because those are the kind of recipes that I want to make! So, whenever you come to Land of 10,000 Recipes, you will always be able to find recipes that are healthy, quick and easy!
Tips for Involving Kids
- Let your kids help you measure out all of the ingredients for the Creamy Raspberry Dressing.
- Put them in charge of the blender. What kid doesn’t like pushing buttons?!
- Have them help you assemble the salads.
- There is always going to be a mess when you cook with your kids but, like my son Will says, “It’s okay Mom, chefs make messes and then they clean it up.” Have fun cooking with your kids!
Berry Salad with Creamy Raspberry Dressing
Ingredients
Creamy Raspberry Dressing
- ½ cup raspberries plus more for serving
- ½ cup raspberry vinegar
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- 2 Tbsp plain greek yogurt
- ½ Tbsp onion powder
- 1 cup vegetable oil
Berry Salad
- Lettuce
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Pecans
Instructions
Creamy Raspberry Dressing
- Crush the raspberries in a measuring cup and add the vinegar. Let sit for 10 minutes.½ cup raspberries, ½ cup raspberry vinegar
- Strain the liquid to remove the raspberry seeds.
- Blend the remaining dressing ingredients until well combined.¼ cup white sugar, 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard, 2 Tbsp plain greek yogurt, ½ Tbsp onion powder, 1 cup vegetable oil
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Berry Salad
- Assemble your salad and top with the Creamy Raspberry Dressing. Enjoy!Lettuce, Raspberries, Blueberries, Pecans
