Apple, Pecan, and Blue Cheese Salad with Dried Cherries

Print Recipe Posted by Ree in All PW Recipes, Cowgirl Food, Salads

I thought I?d follow up the french fry post with something slightly more redeeming. I made this salad a couple of weeks ago, and it was a triumph for the taste buds. My favorite salads are ones with lots of different things going on: some kind of fruit, some kind of nut, some kind of cheese. And always a little hint of sweetness in the dressing.

Serve this with french fries for an unexpected treat!

Just kidding.

I think.

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The Cast of Characters: Salad greens, apples, pecans, blue cheese, dried cherries, olive oil, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and apple cider vinegar.

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Start by making the dressing, and if you don?t have a few little mason jars for this use, get thee to the supermarket and gitcha a package of them. Add a heaping tablespoon of Dijon?

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A little maple syrup. Yum.

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A splash of vinegar?

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And a fourth a cup or so of olive oil. Some salt and pepper, too.

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The beauty of a mason jar. Just shake it up and it?s done.

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Next, cut pretty little slices of apple by cutting an apple into six (or so) wedges, then cutting the core off of each wedge.

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Then just slice each wedge into thin pieces.

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Next, grab a chunk or two of weird looking (but oh-so-delicious tasting) blue cheese. I think this was Stilton, but any kind will do. Then take a fork and chunk it up into bite-sized pieces. I did not show this step because my brain is a torrent of haphazardness.

In other words, I done forgot.

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Next, grab plenty of scrumptious dried cherries. I could founder on these puppies.

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Next, throw the greens into a big ol? bowl?

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Pile on the apples and dried cherries?

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And the pecans?

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Then drizzle on a little of the dressing.

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You definitely won?t use all of the dressing; just toss in a little at a time until you think you?ve added enough.

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Heap the salad on plates, then throw on plenty of blue cheese chunks. And you could definitely just toss the cheese with the rest of the salad. I just forgot to add them in.

This is delicious, guys. A beautiful, fresh salad with lots of lovely things going on. Change it up by substituting pears for apples, goat cheese for blue cheese, cranberries for cherries, spinach for greens.

And serve with a side of fries if you feel like it. I?m the last person on Earth that?s going to judge.

Here?s the handy printable!

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Prep Time: 15 Minutes �|� Cook Time: �|� Difficulty: Easy �|� Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 12 ounces, weight Salad Greens (spring Mix)
• 2 whole Apples, Cored And Sliced Very Thin
• 1/2 cup Pecan Halves
• 1/4 cup Dried Cherries
• 6 ounces, weight Blue Cheese, Cut Into Chunks
• 1 Tablespoon (heaping) Dijon Mustard
• 1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup (more To Taste)
• 1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar (more To Taste)
• 1/4 cup Olive Oil
• Salt And Pepper, to taste

Preparation Instructions

Add greens, apple slices, pecan halves, dried cherries, and blue cheese chunks into a large salad bowl.

In a small jar, mix Dijon, maple syrup, vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper. Put the lid on the jar and shake well to mix.

Pour a little salad dressing over the top of the salad and toss to combine. Taste salad and add more salad dressing to taste.

Serve with french fries. Just kidding. I think.

Posted by Ree on January 15 2012

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/pwcooks/~3/k4eQRUXqb4Q/

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