Great addition to a summer salad

The Farmer's Market nestled in downtown Bozeman is quite the treat. From shaved ice, to homemade bread, to jams, to jewelry, to rock climbing, to live music...it's a gem to this quaint town and promotes buying local.

While there with some coworkers, I stumbled upon a natural health booth. The girls there work at Clearwater Healthcare in Bozeman. One subject they specialize in is nutrition. They were sampling salads and one was glazed with a delectable dressing. When she told me it had maple syrup in it, I was surprised. Usually I think of maple syrup as heavy and sugary. This dressing was light, refreshing, and the perfect balance of sweet.

She sent me the recipe and I tried it for the first time tonight. I'm a fan! Great over a salad consisting of your favorite fruits and nuts. I used romaine lettuce with green apples, strawberries, blueberries and pecans!

Vermont Maple Syrup Dressing:
2 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
½ cup maple syrup
2/3 cup organic olive oil
1 handful freshly chopped mint

One of the experts recommended adding basil or cilantro. You can also substitute vinegars with balsamic or white wine. I didn't try it but if you do, let me know how it is!

Clearwater Healthcare fun health tips:
Garlic is anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticarcinogenic, and great for the cardiovascular system. Apple cider vinegar is wonderful for stimulating the digestive system. Olive oil is a great source of healthy fats. Mint is antispasmotic and soothing to the digestive system.