Strawberry Cocoa Salad

For the last couple of months when I get home I've just relied on the same old things to make. I've been getting very bored, so I've tried a few things lately.

The first thing I tried was Strawberry Cocoa Spinach Salad. Sounds disgusting right?

A couple of years ago my parents went to Hershey, PA, and ate at the restaurant. They put chocolate in everything, in every course. My mom was raving about this salad with Cocoa Balsamic Dressing and dried cherries on micro greens. She tried to duplicate it when she got home, and although I can't say how it compared to restaurant's, I thought it was pretty good.

The other day I was at the store, and the strawberries were beautiful, and cheap! So I picked some up and thought I'd make a strawberry spinach salad (because I saw a pre-packaged one at Whole Foods and it inspired me). So I thought I'd try the Cocoa Balsamic dressing.

Strawberry Cocoa Salad
serves 2 (amounts are approximate - just do what looks right to you)

3 handfuls baby spinach or mixed greens
1 cup sliced strawberries
1/4 cup chopped or slivered almonds, toasted
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup feta cheese
Cocoa Balsamic Dressing
Salt and pepper to taste

Toss spinach and onion with dressing. Fold in strawberries and almonds. Top with feta.

Cocoa Balsamic Dressing

(amounts are approximate - taste and adjust)

3 TBSPs Balsamic vinegar
1 tsp unsweetened Cocoa (I used Ghirardelli Natural Unsweetened Cocoa)
1/8 tsp garlic powder
2 TBSPs Olive oil, or more

Mix vinegar, cocoa and garlic powder. While stirring, drizzle in olive oil until emulsified.