Are you sitting down?

I hope you are my friend because this week our “test it out tuesday” recipe is from a new book!

The one and only Jamie Oliver has released a new cookbook Jamie’s 15 minute meals and spunky husband was sweet enough to get it for me, just because. (Sorry girls but I may have snagged the most ah-mazing husband ever . . . sigh, I’m so lucky ;))

Oh you guys there are so many incredible looking recipes in this book and I want to try them all, like now! Fast, healthy, delicious food – want!!!!

So, this week I am sharing with you one of his side salads, although I kinda beefed it up a little to make it a simple salad enough to serve one as it is. FYI you could (← and totally should) add some balsamic grilled chicken and a slice or 2 of bacon because let’s face it . . . everything is better with balsamic grilled chicken and bacon right?

Right! So right it’s not even a real question, who am I kidding 😉

This salad is incredibly light and all kinds of refreshing. It just ticks all the boxes. Perfect for lunch (or dinner) quick, simple yet at the same time feeling a little decedent. Christmas dinner party appetiser sorted my friend.

Now, can someone please tell me why it is that a small chunk or moldy cheese is considered a delicacy and costs so stinkin’ much? Seriously a small fortune for a manky looking piece of cheese?

Look at it . . . so unattractive, so smelly, so . . . mouldy . . .

If I stumbled across a regular piece of these that had morphed into this manky looking mess I would toss it in the trash (or have my little helper do it for me because we all know how I avoid dealing with manky things in the fridge) quick sticks.

I know I have mentioned many times before that I am not the biggest cheese lover. Never before have I had even the slightest desire to consume a mouldy piece of cah-razy expensive and seriously fancy blue cheese. . . until now. What can I say, when Jamie talks, I listen.

The man know’s his stuff, and I just love him.

Now go grab yourself some mouldy cheese and make this salad already, you. will. love it!!!!

Blue Cheese, Hazelnut and Apple Salad
Barely tweaked and re-written in my own words from Jamie’s 15 minute meals
Serves 1

Ingredients –

1 Tbsp Skinless Hazelnuts

3 cups baby spinach, washed

1 apple (I used royal Gala)

10g Blue Cheese (I used Mainland)

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Method –

1 – In a pan over medium heat toast the hazelnuts until golden, tossing frequently.

2 – Crush/smash the toasted hazelnuts however you can, I used my good old mortar and pestle but folded in some baking paper and smashed with a rolling pin would work.

3 – Put the spinach in a large bowl and sprinkle with crushed hazelnuts.

4 – Cut and core your apple then grate over salad.

5 – Crumble in blue cheese then squeeze with lemon juice and gently toss to combine.

Grab a fork and dig in.

FYI this salad is ah-mazing as it is but its also incredible with some balsamic grilled chicken. Ugh so freaking good!!!!

What’s your all time fave salad?

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Nutritional Info obtained using myfitnesspal.com –

Cal – 201
Fat – 12g
Carbs – 24g
Protein – 7g
Fiber –  6g