Salad with Goat Cheese Dressing and Garlic Croutons This simple salad is made even easier with a ready mix of salad greens or mesclun that many markets now carry. Makes 4 Servings
	Ingredients: 12 cherry tomatoes Kosher salt 8 slices French bread Olive oil cooking spray 2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed but not chopped 11/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 11/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme Freshly ground black pepper to taste 2 ounces low-fat goat cheese 5 cups mixed salad greens such as butterhead, bibb, red leaf lettuce, or a prepared salad mix, cleaned and dried
	Instructions: 1. Halve the cherry tomatoes. 2. Toss with a teaspoon of salt and set aside for 30 minutes at room temperature. 3. Drain, saving tomato liquid. 4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400F and spray a cookie sheet and both sides of the bread slices with olive oil cooking spray. 5. Rub both sides with garlic cloves and bake until crisp and light brown, about 15 minutes. 6. Mix oil, vinegar, and thyme with 1 tablespoon of the reserved tomato liquid and salt and pepper to taste. 7. Add half the cheese and mix thoroughly. 8. Toss greens and tomatoes with dressing. 9. Put on 4 plates and crumble an equal amount of the remaining goat cheese over each. 10. Garnish each plate with 2 slices of garlic croutons. Cooking Tip Because this dressing is rather thick when cheese is added, it is best mixed by hand. If that sounds a little yucky, be advised that most restaurants mix their salads this way. Just make sure your hands are clean first.

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