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Vibrant Pear & Fuji Salad with Pecans & Cheddar

 

Spring is officially just eleven days away!  

The air smells of fresh, damp soil and our daffodil sprouts – which mysteriously appeared in late January- are finally seasonally appropriate!  Lighter weather and lengthening, sunny days make it a great time to share my Pear & Fuji Salad with Pecans & Cheddar! 

We enjoy this vibrant salad fall through early spring when it's always easy to find delicious pears, apples and grapes.  Full of zingy flavor, satisfying toasted nuts and shredded cheddar, you definitely won't feel deprived after this healthy meal.  Add a cup of soup or a whole grain english muffin on the side- smothered in coconut oil & all-fruit strawberry jam if you're like me– and your taste buds will be just as happy as your waistline!


Vibrant Pear & Fuji Salad with Cheddar & Pecans 

 (Serves 2)

INGREDIENTS

Juliane's EASY Salad Dressing:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons honey or fruit jam (or agave nectar)
  • 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • sea salt & freshly cracked black pepper                   

Salad:

  • 3 cups arugula or spring greens
  • 1/3 cup seedless red grapes, halved
  • 1/2 fuji apple, sliced
  • 1/2 medium pear, sliced
  • ¼ cup cheddar cheese, thickly shredded (extra sharp if you please!)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted (I place mine on a piece of aluminum foil in my toaster oven and set to "light" toast. Easy!)

METHOD

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, (or agave or jam), cider vinegar and EVOO.  Season with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
  2. Place greens and sliced fruits in a large bowl.  Add dressing and toss gently (so as not to bruise the greens) to coat.  Arrange on two serving plates, then sprinkle with shredded cheese and toasted pecans.  Serve immediately and Enjoy!

Do you have a favorite quick & easy home-made salad dressing?

How do the longer days impact you?

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Gorgonzola with Fuji Apples

Often, I'd rather have a snack than a meal.  Err, multiple snacks instead of a meal.  I have lots of favorite combos…

Favorite Snacks Fridays is born!  (Well…not every Friday, maybe once or twice a month.) 

Gorgonzola Blue Cheese and Sliced Fuji Apples never disappoint.  (However, the apples must be Fuji- sweet yet tangy, always crispy, never mealy).  And, aside from your choice of apples, there's a lot of wiggle room…

Sliced pears and smoked Gouda?  Amaze.  Sliced Fujis and Pecorino?  To die.  Looking to spice things up?  Add a little Dijon to your apple or pear instead of the cheese.  Tasty.

Clearly the combinations are endless.  

Jim and I browse through the mammoth cheese display at our local organic market as if we're at the library selecting books.  Fun stuff.

I'd love to hear about some of your favorite snacks.  What might they be?