Our current, favorite fall/winter salad!

OK, I will be the first to admit that salads do not flow as naturally in the cold winter months for us, but we try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and my daughter loves them!  So, I am always trying to come up with something that will catch her attention and her taste buds.... besides sweet potato fries!

Presto - a maple salad vinaigrette with any concoction of greens you have on hand, add sliced or julienned granny smith apples, candied pecans and goat cheese!  I know, goat cheese for an eleven year old?  She loves it!  The only thing missing for her, was some bacon or prosciutto!

Here is my "ish" recipe for the vinaigrette:

Maple Vinaigrette


Ingredients

1 tablespoon cider vinegar

2 teaspoons pure maple syrup (I prefer the organic syrup)

1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard or grainy mustard

Salt and pepper to season (though very little needed)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions


Combine the vinegar, maple syrup and mustard in the bottom of a large salad serving bowl and whisk them together.  Add the olive oil and whisk until emulsified.  Taste the vinaigrette and season if needed.

Now, for the fun part:  take about 2- 3 cups of a mixed assortment of greens: romaine, red leaf, green leaf, spinach or even some endive, and add them to the vinaigrette.  Then, thinly slice a granny smith apple and add the slices to the bowl.  Sprinkle with candied pecans (you can buy them in the grocery store, or make them fresh) and toss everything together.  Sprinkle goat cheese over the top and serve!

You could add other vegetables to this, including thinly sliced celery or instead of goat cheese, try a stinky blue cheese!.  Play around with the mixture, and you'll be surprised how easy it is to get your veggie servings!  And what the heck, add the bacon and enjoy. :-)