Arugula and Fresh Mozzarella Salad with Black Truffle Vinaigrette

Wow, that title was a mouthful.


Know how you know that you're under a lot of stress?  No, not that you eat chocolate for breakfast, but I guess that can be a sign, too. 

**On a side note, I find it super annoying that some people lose weight/can't eat/have no appetite when they are stressed out.  That just doesn't seem fair, because they totally cancel each other out.  Sure, you feel on the verge of a nervous breakdown every day, but at least you look cute in your skinny jeans.  But me?  Me, I'm halfway to the looney bin, but I'm stopping by Chipotle on the way and then might get a Frosty at Wendy's after for good measure.  If I'm going to be stressed, I demand that I lose weight, too.  I can't deal with stress and fatness at the same time - that is just cruel**

ANYWAY, like I was saying, do you know how you KNOW you're under a lot of stress?  The answer is, that you have anxiety dreams.  Like, you dream all sorts of bizarre stuff that doesn't really make any sense but you wake up like, OMG, I have to get to math class!  My old go-to stress dream is the college one.  YOU KNOW, the one where you are in college and you've registered for 6 classes in a semester, and you go to five of them every week, do the homework, take the tests, etc.  But the 6th one?  You completely forget about that one until like halfway through the semester, only to realize that there is an attendance policy (that you've clearly failed) and that you've missed 4 tests that account for 60% of your grade. 

I have this dream at least once a month, sometimes as much as once or twice a week during especially busy times at work.  I mean....I graduated from college 10 years ago.  You'd think that at some point, my stress dreams would move on to something more professional, like dreaming about things like deadlines and powerpoints, and commission.  But no.  I dream that I signed up for Economics 201 and forgot to go for 3 months straight.  Sigh.


But I digress.  What I really want to talk to you about is arugula and fresh mozzarella and yellow cherry tomatoes and black truffle oil.  I whipped up this salad to go alongside grilled sausage and shrimp over spaghetti with olive oil and garlic (that recipe is on its way, promise), and it was so tasty.  It basically combines all of my true loves, in one big glass bowl.  Arugula is the best salad green on earth, hands down.  And fresh mozzarella is cheese, and there is no playing favorites with cheese.  Cherry tomatoes are the best kind, and I don't need to convince you that truffle oil is phenomenal.  I mean, really.  So, this salad is amazing and you should make it today.  That is all.

Arugula and Fresh Mozzarella Salad with Black Truffle Vinaigrette
Source: My own, dressing inspired by What's Cooking America

For the Salad:
6 cups arugula
1/2 large ball of fresh mozzarella, cut into cubes
2 handfuls cherry tomatoes, halved

For the Dressing:
2 tablespoons black truffle oil
1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon  white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
Few grindings of black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning

In a small bowl, whisk together truffle oil, olive oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.  Pour over arugula, mozzarella and tomato mixture.  Toss to coat and serve immediately.