An easy to prepare salad with a bit of sweetness from the craisins and tartness from the dressing. A favorite in our household. Dress the entire salad just before serving or have individuals dress their own.

Ingredients –
1/4 cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp (15 ml) balsamic vinegar
1 tsp (5 ml) dijon mustard
1 or 2 garlic cloves, crushed (optional)
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) sugar
1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) kosher or sea salt
black pepper, to taste

1/4 cup (60 ml) pecans or walnuts,
toasted or not, then chopped

1 romaine lettuce or 4 cups (1 liter) mixed greens chopped
1/2 cup (125 ml) goat cheese
1/4 cup (60 ml) craisins

Preparation –

  1. Mix oil, balsamic, dijon, garlic, sugar, salt and pepper.
  2. Shake or whisk vigorously, set aside. Allow to set for 30 minutes or more before serving to enhance flavour.
  3. On baking sheet lay out nuts and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F.
  4. Remove nuts from oven, cool and chop coarsely.
  5. Prepare greens. Set aside.
  6. A few minutes before you are ready to serve salad place greens in a serving bowl and add nuts and craisins.
  7. Pour enough dressing on salad to lightly coat all ingredients (some dressing may be left over – refrigerate).
  8. Toss salad, then crumble most of goat cheese into salad and toss again.Reserve some of cheese for crumbling over top of salad before serving.

Serves 2 – 4