Just a little hello on the last day of 2012.
Here is a salad inspired by my friend Jen who’s roots grow from Sweden. This salad, her mother’s holiday special is a great way to ring in the New Year.
Here are the nuts and bolts:
I made an orange vinaigrette with olive oil, a little balsamic and white wine vinegar, a bit of orange juice, maple syrup and a dash of garlic powder, salt and pepper.
I’ve got it prepped, packed up and ready to take to a small dinner party.
We have enjoyed our holiday season with the best part being a new addition to the family. Here you can take a guess…What’s different in this picture?
If you guessed this… you are right! Welcome Otis.
We are all totally in love with our newest four legged family member. He came home with us two weeks ago. I don’t want to exploit him too much but he’s about as cute, soft and fuzzy as they come. He’s half standard American Golden Retriever and half English Cream. The English Cream are supposedly a little calmer and have less chances of health issues. We had thought about going for another breed… but well, we just couldn’t. We are a golden family 
We are leaving for our dinner in about twenty minutes, so I’ll keep this short and sweet. We are going way over to the other side of the island to celebrate New Year’s Eve (a whole 40 minutes) and staying the night. I’ve got Otis’ overnight bag packed which includes two pig ears to keep him busy through the night.
Have the most wonderful start to 2013…xo
Tschüß,
What a wonderful way to start a new year – not just with a delicious salad, but with a lovely new friend
HAPPY NEW YEAR and all the best for 2013! 
Thanks a ton. He’s a sweetie. Hope you had a good start to 2013 x wendy
the salad looks so yumm and Otis is such an adorable lil pup.. happy new year
Thanks! My friend has loads of these great salad combos. Takes salads to the next level! Happy new year … Cheers wendy
Welcome Otis! You are indeed an adorable pup!
Why thank you very much. Really i don’t even have to try
ruff ruff
Happy New Year, Wendy! I’m not a pet person, but that dog looks adorable… And as for the salad, the dressing sounds really good, will try to make that as one of my new year’s resolutions is eating more salad, and I’m always stuck for dressings. What a good idea to bag the individual salad ingredients for travelling – so easy but I wouldn’t have thought of it.
Happy new year to you Kiki. This guy would change your mind…He’s even mellow!
the baggies are a good way to travel and throw together a la minute. xx wendy
I’ve got some great winter salads to share. I’m on the straight and narrow for a bit so you won’t see many desserts for now. Well at least that’s the plan this first day of 2013
I just put together a huge salad and made your dressing. Luckily I made a larger batch of the dressing, because it’s fab and I’ll be having more of it in the next days!!
Happy New Year, Wendy! The salad looks good, but Otis looks better. He’s a beauty!. Congratulations!
Cheers to you Resa. Did you whoop it up last night or keep it mellow. Did I say “whoop”? god I’m a dork.
Hope 2013 is a good year for you and I look forward to following your endeavors. xo wendy
I had a nice whoop dinner and wine with good friends.
Happy New Year, Wendy!
Welcome Otis …. he are wonderful, Wendy …. I just adore that second last photo of him. I bet he will keep you busy and all the fresh air you will get on top of all the walking. Are a bit envy. Your Christmas is magnificent too. Even if my roots are well down in Swedish soil – I never seen this salad before, but I like all the ingredients and so easy to make … wonderful.
I wish you and everybody around only the BEST for 2013.
Hope to see a bit more of you .. in this world too.
Lots of Wivi
Happy new year to you dear viveka. He is keeping us busy and I have succumbed to a little bug I think from lack of sleep. It’s honestly a little like a new baby except we can stick the baby in the bathroom for the night if he’s really driving us nuts
Have a super beginning of 2013.
Cheers….xx wendy
PS- have no idea really the origin of the salad. Just that my friend’s mom is Swedish and makes it for Christmas dinner
No .. don’t put Otis in the bathroom *smile No wonder he goes nuts *laughing.
Looking forward to read about home baked doggy cookies now – and photos of a sweet four legged soul.
Anything can be a tradition – we make it own. So this salad could have been eat somewhere abroad and her mum has made it hers. That’s why food is so personal and exciting.
Hoping for all the best in 2013, dear friend, for you, too!
Hugs,
Wolfgang
Vielen dank! Frohes neues Jahr:-) wendy
Alles gute for 2013, Wendy! Otis is adorable.
Danke sehr und du auch! Here’s to blogging in 2013! Cheers… x wendy
He is gorgeous! Congrats on your new arrival! Welcome Otis :-* A very happy new year to you Wendy, and to all your loved ones x
Thanks so much. Hope you are off to a good start in 2013. Happy happy new year. X
Your tree and house look so cozy and Otis is all kinds of adorable. Happy New Year!
Thanks Lora- hope you had some down time on this first day of the new year.
Best,
x wendy
Oh, I’m so glad I didn’t miss this post!! Welcome, welcome to Otis!! The newest member of our blogging family.. I can’t wait to see him in 2013! Happy New Year to you and all of your loved ones, Wendy, I hope your New Year’s Eve was as wonderful as that salad looks!! xxxx
Thanks Smidge! We had a lovely mellow evening with friends who made an incredible seafood paella. The salad held its own.
Happy new year to you… I’ll try not to over post the new pooch although it will be hard!
Cheers! xox
The salad looks beautiful. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Happy New Year.
You are most welcome Margaret. Hope you are having a good start to 2013.
I need something fresh and healthy after a rather indulgent Christmas… Happy New Year!
Me too. I’m eating a juicy red grapefruit in this moment! I consider your New Year’s swim a fresh and healthy start as well. Beautiful. Cheers…wendy
Thank you for reading, Wendy! Enjoy the grapefruit
Happy New Year! This post made me smile all round – especially Otis photo bombing the Christmas tree photo… Can’t wait to read up on all of your adventures in 2013!
The feeling is mutual. A new year of baking school… enjoy it cause I think it’s going to fly by. Happy New Year Movita! xx
OTIS!!! Please, exploit, exploit!!! He is beautiful and I think Rockefeller would love to see more of him. What a great addition to the family.
Beautiful salad too. We make an Apple Fig Salad at work that is similar–apples, figs, brie, red onions and carrots. I love the idea of grapefruit on it. xo
Oh the places’s we’ll go. We are having so much fun and I’m sure he will make his presence known on the blog.
Apple fig brie… red onion and carrots. Great. I’ll have a go at that and share it with my friend Jen.
Cheers
Happy New Year, Wendy. What an adorable addition to the family. I immediately said Awwwwwww when I saw his photo. He’s adorable. And I can’t wait to try the salad. It sounds awesome.
Thank you. I did a little catch up in your world yesterday. Loved it. Here’s to 2013!
Happy Happy New Year, Wendy! And Otis is such a sweetie! I’m such a dog person that any cute furry face makes me weak in the knees! Happy new family! And I just love this salad, the ingredients (dried fruit, nuts and cheese on greens is heavenly) and the dressing sounds just fabulous! I’ll definitely try this! Beautiful! Wishing you all the best and much happiness in 2013!
Thanks Jamie… hope you are enjoying the start of 2013 in your new digs. You’ve had a big year with many accomplishments. Feel proud.
xo wendy
I think Otis is about the softest and often cuddliest puppy I’ve ever known. We are having a blast.
This is really a tasty and interesting salad that really holds it’s own on a table full of flavors.
Happy New Year
Well hello Ottis !! I’ve fallen instantly in love too, one day I would love to have a dog, and looking at Ottis, well he’d fit the bill perfectly.
Loving the salad combination too – a crunchy way to bring in the new year
a belated happy new year Wendy, very much looking forward to seeing what your new year brings you in the kitchen and garden and life, Claire x
The new member of your family is adorable and yes…very fuzzy and cuddly. Your salad sounds delicious. I’m sure your guests enjoyed it. All the best in the new year.
I’m in love with Otis too. How adorable! Your salad with all of your fixings looks fantastic and a great way to get on the new year track. Wishing you a super 2013! BAM
Adorable! Love that you packed him a little overnighter bag too
Oh look at Otis! Exploit away, I say ;o) I hope you had a fabulous New Year’s celebration and all the very best for 2013!
I say exploit him!! You had me at ‘figs’… in that salad. Looks perfect…
Where did you get Otis? We’ve got a breeder in Woodinville that we’ve been waiting for since last October. Her lady just doesn’t want to get pregnant. It feels like we’ve been waiting for so long that I’m getting impatient, and want to look around for other options. Any suggestions? Would you recommend your breeder?