Maybe I’m being too sensitive, but I feel repeatedly insulted by my dry cleaner.
It’s not just the prices, although those are absurd. It’s only recently that I started buying clothes (read: silk blouses) that I can’t just throw in my trusty Dryel bag to “dry clean,” and it’s hard to stomach more than $10 to clean a piece of clothing I already paid too much for.
But no, it’s the tags they attach to my clothing that get under my skin.
“It is our professional opinion that this stain cannot be removed.” That was attached to one of my blouses a few weeks ago, inducing immediate panic. I searched it high and low for a stain – I hadn’t known it had one! – and eventually came to the conclusion that they meant it had some underarm discoloration. Translation: It is our professional opinion that you sweat an ungodly amount. Well, sorry!
I wore that blouse on a Monday, and spilled coffee down my front, first thing. I wish I were kidding.
Most recently it was an Anthropologie sweater that I decided was worth dry cleaning because I was afraid I’d ruin it any way I attempted to clean it. It’s super delicate – a really loose weave, almost like a lace sweater, if that makes any sense – and I can barely put it on over my earrings without it catching. But when I picked it up from the dry cleaner it had a big bold tag that said “ATTENTION: DO NOT DRY CLEAN.” Might as well have said “ATTENTION: LEARN TO READ” because when I checked the tag, sure enough, “do not dry clean.”
I guess that one’s my fault. But the chances of that “hand wash cold” foolishness happening? Roughly 0%. No, I take that back. Exactly 0%.
We’ll see what the dry cleaner has in store for me next time. Do they notice if I stretch stuff out?
In any case, may this not be the kind of Monday that starts with an insult and a coffee stain on your shirt. May this be the kind of Monday where you make a salad dressing out of jam!
I know what you’re probably thinking… a jam dressing? What? But take a leap of faith with me. I think we can all agree that even at the low end of the jam deliciousness scale, nothing could taste that bad. Especially with strawberry jam.
Strawberry jam fell off my radar until this recipe, but it brings back immediate memories of Sunday morning brunches from my childhood. My mom went through a phase (possibly after a trip to London?) where she made a British-style brunch for us every week. Every Sunday for weeks, my family drank Earl Grey, ate hard-boiled eggs out of egg cups, and slathered fresh whipped cream and strawberry preserves on homemade scones.
If I haven’t mentioned it before, my mom is a pretty phenomenal human being. Can you imagine having three kids and a full time job and finding the time for homemade scones? I only have one of those three things going on, and I can barely handle it. But I digress. Mom’s scones are amazing, and I’m about as likely to bake them myself as I am to hand wash that darn sweater.
Anyway, that is pretty much the only time in life I’ve ever eaten strawberry jam. Usually I’m all about the raspberry, but strawberry is going to make a comeback in my life now that I’m reminded of its existence. Ohhh yes.
I snagged the idea for this recipe from a cooking class Nate and I recently took with my team at work. The jam dressing was the simplest recipe (so simple that the chef didn’t even have us prepare it; he just made it himself) but also Nate’s favorite. So hey, why not recreate it? It’s pretty much as easy as it gets, plus it was a great excuse to buy that jar of strawberry jam which I will now have to find other ways to use up…
The chef made this dressing with balsamic vinegar, but I decided to use a white wine vinegar for something a little milder. The balsamic was also delicious if that’s all you have on hand!
This dressing is pretty sweet, so it tastes best with sweet salad toppings. Here I used fresh strawberries, toasted coconut, and pepitas. With so few ingredients, the focus is definitely on the sweetness of the dressing and the crunch of the toppings. Add some protein and it could be a full meal, or keep it as-is for a side dish.
May I recommend an apron while you prepare this? Especially if your current outfit demands to be hand washed cold.
- 6 Tbsp strawberry jam (I use Bonne Maman brand)
- 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- about 8 cups baby spinach
- 1 pint strawberries (about 2 cups sliced)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut, lightly toasted
- 1/4 cup pepitas, toasted
- Make the dressing by whisking all 3 ingredients together.
- In a large salad bowl, toss the spinach with about half of the dressing. Arrange strawberries, coconut, and pepitas on top. Serve with remaining dressing. Enjoy!
I totally get this. Also, I’m a slob and basically need to bib myself at 30 (so don’t worry, you’re not the only human tornado :))
This dressing sounds wonderful (and you show my most favorite jam, next to homemade). Thank you for sharing this.
Your dry cleaner story made me lol, although if I were in your shoes, I’d be just as frustrated. Leave me and my under-arm stains alone. Sounds like they need to back off of their customers before they loose em all!
This salad looks delicious, girly! LOVE that stawberry jam vinaigrette – just brilliant!
I refuse to buy clothes that have be dry cleaned for that exact reason, lol. Damn insulting tags. ;)
So you really are holding on to summer, huh? That’s fine by me, strawberry jam is my favorite flavor and I think using at a dressing sounds unbelievable! And what’s even more unbelievable is your mom. What an awesome woman. I can already see the tears on your wedding day! :)
This salad look delicious. Love the jam dressing!
I can’t believe your drycleaner leaves notes like that! Usually mine just staples the ticket number in the most uncomfortable place, and I always forget to take it out until three hours after I have put the shirt on and scratched myself with the staples a million times.
I would happily get strawberry jam stains on my cooking shirt after making and devouring this salad. The strawberry season here doesn’t look like it’s ending any time soon and this salad is perfect for our fresh spring weather! Good luck with all the last minute wedding stuff!
Those darn drycleaners! First of all, why do they need to be so expensive?! Secondly, why can they neverrrrr remove any stains? I thought they were professional cleaners! Regardless, I’d happily spill this dressing on my top (and I probably will…), it’s called character, right?! ;)
Dressing out of jam is definitely new to me! When you suggested adding a protein, I decided some thinly sliced steak might make an appearance on my menu next week with this salad. Thanks for the inspiration!
This salad is so fun!! I need an excuse to use the ridiculous amount of jam I have in the fridge. And no joke, I legit don’t buy clothes if they have to be dry-cleaned. Lazy over herrrrr!