I love salads but admit to be less than inspired when the weather is cold and raw, as I prefer to reach instead for something warm and comforting, like a heartwarming soup. But salads are good and healthy and a great way to ensure that we'll get our veggies. Salads don't have to be cold - warm salads are a wonderful departure from the traditional. Baby spinach is the perfect green and really any vegetables can be used - from roasted or grilled root vegetables to sauted, to steamed. The sky's the limit. All that's required is your imagination and whatever you can find in your fridge. This is also fantastic way to use those leftover veggies - and what's best is that this salad needs just a minute to warm in the microwave. 

Ingredients

1 cup of baby leaf spinach
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms, sauteed in olive oil (I used leftovers) 
1/2 cup cauliflower, steamed or roasted.
Freshly shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese, to taste.
Olive oil - enough for drizzling
sea salt and pepper to taste.

Directions

Place the spinach on a plate or salad bowl, then place the cauliflower and sliced mushrooms over the spinach. Drizzle olive oil - about 1 tsp - over the top of the salad, add salt, pepper and Parmesan to taste. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute for a warm winter salad.