Winter Salad

When I think salad, I think hot summer weather and cool refreshing flavors. Then I remind myself of the exciting produce available in fall and winter (pear, squash, etc) and how salad instantly becomes a comfort food. I was invited to a glitter party today (yes i know, AMAZING) and brought the salad to add to a spread of savory tarts and fresh asparagus. This salad is light enough to be a starter for dins and also has enough substance to be the main lunch event. It is also one of my all-time faves... and that's saying something.


Fall Salad with Pears, Walnuts, and Blue Cheese
serves 6 as starter or 4 as main

Ingredients

• 1 bag of spinach leaves, washed and ready-to-eat
• 1 large pear (of any sort), peeled and chopped into medium size chunks
• 1 handful of walnut pieces
• 1 handful of blue cheese crumbles, I used gorgonzola
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• salt & pepper

Directions

• Get out a small pan.. melt butter and add sugar
• Add chopped pears and cook for 2 min. You do not want the pears to start to lose shape/lose all of their crunch.
• Drain pears, put in salad bowl. reserve the liquid left of the bottom of the pan.
• Add vinegar, oil, mustard, salt & pepper to the pear liquid and whisk.
  
• Add spinach, walnuts, cheese, and dressing to the pears in the salad bowl.
  
• Mix.

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