Warm Mushroom and Spinach Salad with Balsamic Vinegar Dressing
(Serving 2-4) – Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free

Mushrooms! I love Spinach too! It’s funny when I think back to my childhood I remember the typical stuff like certain movies, t.v. and video games. It’s interesting how veggies were marketed to us in a roundabout way back then. Obviously times have now changed with all the commercials and advertising (especially here in the U.S.). I’m unclear as to what the true message is these days…junk, soda, greasy, cheesy, crust filled, all you can eat, candy etc. I think I read somewhere that 70% of the commercials on children t.v. channels are all junk foods. It’s no surprise the increase in obesity, diabetes heart diseases, cancer etc. in this country. Now when I was growing up I remember Spinach and Mushrooms the key ingredients in this dish which are both very nutritious. Remember Super Mario Bros. and Mushroom world. Mushrooms would allow me to double in size and strength or take an extra hit. Having strength to break bricks. Then there is Popeye whether the original intention was to boast the health benefits of spinach and maybe it wasn’t, the reality is we viewed Popeye as having incredible strength and abilities after eating a can of the stuff. The best part is…it really is a super food and nutritiously good for you. Vitamin A, K, B6, Iron etc. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
¼ Tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1-2 Garlic Cloves, minced
5oz Shiitake Mushrooms, sliced
3.5oz Bunapi Mushrooms (White Beech), ends removed
7 Whole White Button Mushrooms, quartered
6 Whole Baby Bella Mushrooms, quartered
¼ Tsp Sea Salt
3 Handfuls Fresh Baby Spinach (abt 4 Cups)
2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
½ Tbsp Blue Agave Nectar
1 Tsp Horseradish Mustard or Dijon

Directions: 
-In sauté pan heat 2 Tbsp Olive Oil over medium-low heat, add Crushed Red Pepper Flakes and Garlic for about 2 minutes.

-Remove Garlic-Red Pepper Oil and pour into a bowl, set aside.
-Back to empty pan – heat over medium and add mushrooms in batches. I started with Shiitake about 2-3 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from pan and set aside.
-Add quartered (larger pieces I cut down further) Baby Bella / Button mushrooms and ¼ Tsp Sea Salt and sauté for about 5 minutes. Remove from pan and add with Shiitake.
-To pan add 1 Tbsp Olive Oil and sauté Bunapi Mushrooms for about 5 minutes. They should pick up some nice color from the pan/prior ingredients. Remove and add with other mushrooms.

-Back to pan add fresh Spinach and warm through until slightly wilted. Remove from pan and add with mushrooms, the spinach will continue to warm through with mushrooms.

For Dressing: -To bowl with Olive Oil, Garlic and crushed Red Pepper Flakes add: Balsamic Vinegar, Agave Nectar and Mustard – whisk together to combine. Toss all ingredients together to combine. Let stand for about 5-10 minutes before serving and enjoy!

Note from the past: Be sure to divide mushrooms and cook in multiple batches. If you throw all the mushrooms in the pan together at once they will get watery and steam up instead. You don’t want to over stir or season yet. You’ll want mushrooms to release their own natural moisture and sizzle into a golden color.