this salad is always a hit. how could it not be? toasted pecans, blue cheese...
it has great texture and all the flavors work beautifully together. i use a mix of radicchio and endive as the base and throw in diced asian pear (with a squeeze of lemon juice to keep it from browning), toasted pecans and blue cheese. i make a maple vinaigrette that is ridiculously good. like all of my dressing, they have the same standard ingredients. vinegar, dijon mustard, a sweetener (honey, agave), but for this i used maple syrup. good maple syrup. don't even think about using aunt jemima. buy some grade "a" maple syrup. i like to use whole foods 365 brand, pure, organic syrup. i also like to use white balsamic vinegar. it has a much more milder flavor than balsamic vinegar. also, when i am making a salad that has light colors, i don't like to use balsamic - it colors the lettuce brown, which is unappealing, to me at least. actually, the only time i use balsamic vinegar is with mixed greens now that i think about it. anyway, make this salad for a special occasion - all of the ingredients are a bit expensive in terms of a salad. but i promise, you will "fall" in love with it.
