Chicken, Artichoke, Oven Dried Tomato Salad with Pesto Dressing

I finally made the salad I've been wanting to make since making my first batch of oven-dried tomatoes a few weeks ago. I made a second batch of tomatoes on Saturday with tomatoes from my in-laws' garden. I didn't pack them in olive oil this time so they wouldn't be soggy for my salad. Oven-dried tomatoes is a perfect way to use up extra tomatoes from your garden.

This yummy salad is a recreation of something I had a few years ago at a little cafe. It was the first time I had oven-dried tomatoes, and I fell in love with them that day. I also adored the creamy pesto dressing.

I don't have exact amounts for anything with this salad. Just throw it in a bowl and enjoy. I also made two pesto dressings - one creamy and one not. No exact amounts with the dressings either. I just add and taste until I'm happy with the outcome.

Ingredients

• Romaine lettuce, chopped
  
• Spinach
• Grilled lemon chicken (recipe here)
  
• Oven-dried tomatoes
• Artichoke hearts (I used marinated ones, rinsed & drained.)
  
• Pine nuts, toasted

I like half romaine and half spinach to add some variety. I like the crunch of the romaine. Spinach by itself as a salad is a little too wimpy for me.

Pesto Dressing

• A couple tablespoons of pesto (I used basil, pine nut, parmesan pesto.)
• Splash of balsamic vinegar
• Squeeze of lemon (I like lots of lemon.)
  
• Salt & pepper to taste

Just mix everything together. If it's too thick, add a bit of olive oil.

Creamy Pesto Dressing

• About 1/4 cup of pesto
• A couple tablespoons of Greek yogurt
• A spoonful of mayo (optional)
• Splash of balsamic vinegar
  
• Squeeze of lemon
• Salt & pepper to taste

Mix everything together.

That's it. Easy salad to throw together. I had the pesto dressing, and Husband loved the creamy pesto. I think the salad would be equally delicious with just plain pesto as well. Hope you like it!