We are a blended family: Nate is stepfather to my two older children, Emma and Ethan, and together we have a preschooler, Molly. When we married, we made it a priority to become a real family, and one of the traditions we committed to was eating dinner together almost every night.
Nearly five years later, that dinner routine remains. Recently we’ve focused on eating healthier, and I developed a bright, flavorful Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette that pairs perfectly with an easy grilled chicken salad. The dressing balances citrus and balsamic notes and has quickly become a family favorite.
Dating and blending our families produced plenty of funny memories. Before we were married, any “date” with Nate usually included the kids unless Emma and Ethan were visiting their dad. We spent many evenings rollerskating together. On one memorable night, Nate was dancing to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” when he rolled over something and took a spectacular tumble. He was fine, but his jeans ripped from the crotch down to the knee. I grabbed a jacket for him to tie around his waist so we could leave. The kids weren’t amused at first — he’d ripped his pants just fifteen minutes after we arrived — but after Nate showed them how bad the tear was, everyone laughed. We capped the night with drive-through ice cream.
Blending families brings bumps along the way, but it also brings a lot of laughter and shared moments. Speaking of blended families, the new Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore movie Blended looks like a fun take on single parents learning to navigate life together.
As part of a recent promotion, when you purchase two bags of Tyson Grilled & Ready products you can receive two free movie tickets to see Blended. I picked up Tyson Grilled & Ready diced chicken for the salad and sliced chicken for an upcoming meal. After emailing my receipt picture I received a code and ordered my tickets — it was quick and easy. (Note: check the promotion dates where applicable.)
Now for the meal: I built salads with chopped romaine hearts, shredded carrots, sliced onions, and cucumbers, then topped each with Tyson’s Grilled & Ready diced chicken and a sprinkle of shredded cheddar. I added two tablespoons of the Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette to each serving — it was delicious and brightened the whole dish.
Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
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Yield: about 2 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 4 tbs balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tbs white sugar
- 2 tbs brown sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and stir until the sugars are dissolved and the dressing is well combined.
- Store in a glass mason jar. Shake well with the lid tightly closed before serving.
- Serve over salad or vegetables, or use as a marinade for chicken or seafood.
- Refrigerate leftovers and shake again before use.
This entire meal, including the dressing, is quick and simple. The grilled chicken heats in minutes while you toss the salad. The vinaigrette is tangy, a little sweet, and brightened by fresh-squeezed orange juice — perfect for weeknight dinners when you want something both healthy and satisfying.
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