Hail (Cherry) Caesar Salad

The sweet-tart chew of dried cherries are a welcome addition to any green salad. Keep a package of dried cherries on hand to toss into purchased carry-out salads on the go. *If desired, to plump dried tart cherries: Cover cherries with boiling water; let stand for 5 minutes. Drain well before using.

Ingredients:
6 cups torn romaine lettuce or one 10-ounce package torn romaine lettuce
1 cup Caesar salad, restaurant-style croutons
1 cup dried tart cherries, if desired, plumped*
1/4 of a small red onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
1/2 cup bottled lowfat Caesar salad dressing or Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing (recipe follows)
1/3 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Place lettuce, croutons, cherries and onion in a large salad bowl. Drizzle lettuce mixture with dressing; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Toss until lettuce mixture is evenly coated.

Make 4 (2-cup) servings.

Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing: Place 1/2 cup light mayonnaise, 1/3 cup 1% milk 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese, 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 2 to 4 anchovy filets, 4 large cloves peeled garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a blender container. Cover and blend until smooth. If desired, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons milk to make of desired consistency. Season to taste with freshly ground black pepper. Store, covered, in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make about 2/3 cup.

Nutrition Info:
Nutrition Facts per 2 cup serving: 362 calories, 16 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 44 g carbohydrate, 20 mg cholesterol, 10 g protein, 4 g fiber, 854 mg sodium; Daily Values: 120% vitamin A, 50% vitamin C, 20% calcium, 10% iron