Pear Walnut Salad With Blue Cheese Food

PEAR WALNUT BLUE CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Using a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add in the 1 tablespoon butter and once it begins to melt add in the 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon water, and 1 cups walnuts.
• Stir continuously for about 5 minutes and transfer the candied walnuts to a parchment lined baking sheet in a single even layer and allow them to cool and harden, about 15 minutes.
• In a blender or food processor, add in the lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 clove of garlic, 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and blend or pulse until the salad dressing is completely smooth.
• Clean and dry the 5 ounce package of mixed salad greens. Place into a large bowl to assemble the salad. Clean and slice the 2 pears and add on top of the salad greens. Add in the 1 cup of candied walnuts and 1/3 cup dried cranberries.
• Drizzle on as much of the salad dressing as you would like and toss the salad until everything comes together. Top with the 1/3 cup blue cheese and serve immediately.
• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

ROASTED PEARS WITH BLUE CHEESE AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Arrange the pears, cut sides up, on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Strip the leaves from the thyme branches and sprinkle over the pears. Put the baking sheet in the oven and bake 20 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and spoon a generous teaspoon of crumbled cheese in the center of each pear half, return the pears to the oven and roast until they are tender and the cheese is soft, about 10 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the walnuts on another baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden brown and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Chop. When the pears are cooked, transfer them to a serving plate and sprinkle the toasted walnuts over the top. Serve hot.

GRIDDLED PEAR & BLUE CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Put the pears in a bowl and drizzle with 1 tsp of the oil. Heat a griddle pan, then cook the pears, in batches, for 1 min on each side. Set aside to cool.
• Mix the remaining oil, vinegar and honey. Toss the pears, leaves and cheese, divide between 4 plates and drizzle with the dressing. Serve with bread, if you like.

PEAR-WALNUT SALAD WITH ARTISAN BLEU CHEESE

Steps:

• In a salad bowl, lightly toss the greens with the pears.
• In a small non-reactive bowl, combine the honey and lemon juice. Whisk with the salt and pepper, to taste.
• Pour the dressing over the the greens and pears and toss .
• Arrange the salad on six individual salad plates.
• Garnish with the walnuts and bleu cheese.
• Easy!

PEAR, DATE AND WALNUT SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• To make the dressing: In a small bowl, combine all of the dressing ingredients and whisk to combine. Taste, and adjust if necessary-I added some more mustard and another pinch of salt.
• To make the salad: First, toast the walnuts in a medium skillet over medium heat until fragrant, stirring often, about 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
• In a medium serving bowl, combine the greens, dates, pears and toasted walnuts. When you're ready to serve, drizzle in some dressing (you won't need all of it) and toss until the greens are lightly coated, adding more if necessary. Serve in individual bowls with blue cheese sprinkled on top.

PEAR & BLUE CHEESE WALNUT SALAD W/ PEAR VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Halve and core the pears. Slice thin, brush with lemon juice to prevent browning. This may be done up to 60 minutes ahead.
• To arrange the salads: line plates with salad greens.
• Fan pear slices atop each serving.
• Sprinkle with some blue cheese and candied nuts.
• Drizzle with dressing. Serve extra on the side.
• CANDIED WALNUTS / PECANS.
• Line a baking sheet with foil. Butter or spray with a nonstick oil.
• In a heavy skillet, over medium heat, combine: 1 C walnuts, 1/2 C sugar and 2 T butter.
• Cook until sugar starts to melt, DO NOT stir. Reduce heat to low and cook 'til sugar is golden brown. Stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and pour onto prepared baking sheet. Cool completely. Break into clusters.
• PEAR NECTAR VINAIGRETTE.
• In a screw top jar, combine:
• white wine vinegar, oil, pear nectar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper.
• Cover and shake well.
• Store in refrigerator for up to one week.
• Shake before serving.
• Makes about 1°C.

BLUE CHEESE AND PEAR SALAD

Steps:

• Cover each salad plate with a modest bed of baby green lettuce.
• Slice and core a half pear for each plate.
• Thinly slice pears from bottom to just before the very end and then fan out the slices over the lettuce.
• Top with toasted walnuts and a generous serving of crumbled blue cheese.
• Whisk dressing ingredients and spoon over the salad mixture.

PEAR, CHICORY & BLUE CHEESE SALAD

Steps:

• Discard the outer leaves from the chicory and slice in half lengthways. Cut out the base root, then slice into long, thin slivers and rinse. Pat dry and put in a bowl. Cut each pear quarter into 3 and toss with a little lemon juice to prevent discolouring. Add to the bowl with the parsley and walnut halves.
• Make a dressing by mixing the walnut oil with the remaining lemon juice and seasoning, then add to the bowl. Toss everything together, then plate up, crumbling over the cheese. Serve immediately.

PEAR & WALNUT SALAD W/CREAMY BLEU (BLUE) CHEESE DRESSING

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo, sour cream and lemon juice until smooth.
• Fold in the bleu cheese crumbles and add salt and pepper.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Tear a combination of the romaine and red leaf lettuce into individual serving bowls or onto plates and top with the bleu cheese dressing.
• Place the pear slices on top of the dressing and finish each salad with the glazed walnuts and a sprinkling of cranberries.

PEAR, BLUE CHEESE, WALNUT AND BACON SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients until well blended; set aside.
• In a small frying pan set on a medium heat, melt the butter, stir in the maple syrup or honey and then stir in the walnuts. Continue to heat the walnuts, stirring continuously, for approximately 2-3 minutes or until they are fragrant, caramelized and lightly browned. Remove from the heat; set aside.
• Place the greens in a large salad bowl or, if individual servings are preferred, distribute them equally among 6 salad plates. Sprinkle over the pears, blue cheese and walnuts. Place over chicken then drizzle with dressing and toss.
• Note: I find having the chicken warmed is superior to cold chicken.

PLANK-ROASTED PEAR SALAD WITH BLUE CHEESE AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Soak the planks for 60 minutes in water.
• Preheat your grill.
• Optional" Roast the walnuts. Walnuts can be roasted in a dry skillet before chopping. Simply put them in a skillet over medium heat and roast until you start to smell them. They are done at that point. Be careful not to burn them.
• Cut the pears in half lengthwise, leaving the stems intake. Take a melon baller and remove the seed/ core section.
• In a bowl, mix the butter and honey. Brush the honey mixture over the cut surface of the pear. Sprinkle the pears with blue cheese, add some extra to the cored out center YUM!
• Place the planks on the grill grate and close the lid. When the planks start to smoke and pop, about 3-5 minutes, open the grill and *use tongs*, turn the planks over.
• Place the pears on the planks, cut side & blue cheese side UP.
• Close the grill and roast for 12-15 minutes or until the pears are scorched around the edges and the cheese is melted.
• Serve on top salad greens, sprinkle with walnuts
• Dress with vinaigrette.
• ALTERNATELY: Plank-Roasting in the oven.
• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Place the prepared pears on the planks and place the planks in the middle of the oven.
• Plank roast for 12-15 minutes or until pears are scorched around the edges.

PEAR SALAD WITH SPINACH, BLUE CHEESE, AND WALNUTS

Steps:

• Place pear on bed of fresh spinach.
• Mix blue cheese with heavy cream, and fill the center of the pear.
• Sprinkle with roasted walnuts.