Thursday, February 18, 2010

Pears, Goat Cheese...Need I Say More? Foodie Friday



Is there anything more beautiful than a simple pear?


With just a few ingredients and very little time, you can prepare a Delicious
salad  that is nice enough for company and yet simple enough for family.

Ingredients:
1 bag of spinach (don't forget to rinse it, even if it says pre-washed)
goat cheese (I used 3 oz. for this salad, you can add as much as you like)
1/2 cup (or more if you like) toasted nuts* (I used walnuts. You could use pecans, almonds or pine nuts)
1 pear-cored and thinly sliced

Place the spinach in a large bowl, top with sliced pears, goat cheese and cooled toasted nuts. Drizzle with Orange Vinaigrette before serving.



Orange Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 heaping T. orange marmalade
2 T. sugar
1 T. spicy mustard
pinch salt and pepper
Place in bowl and whisk until well blended. You can leave out the marmalade if you don't happen to have it, you may need to add a bit more sugar to sweeten the dressing.





I will be serving this salad with pork chops. I will also pour a bit of the dressing over the pork chops and let them marinate before cooking.


*To toast the walnuts (or whatever nuts you are using) I use a piece of foil with the ends turned up so that I can remove it easily from the oven. You can use a cookie sheet, but I’d rather throw away foil than wash something else. Place them in the cold oven, turn it on to 350 degrees and bake about 10 minutes. They can burn easily, so watch them closely. You will know they are toasted when you can just begin to smell them. Remove from oven, and let cool a few minutes.



13 comments:

Gigi Thibodeau said...

Yum! This looks delicious, Sue. I make a similar salad, but I love the addition of orange marmalade to your dressing. Brilliant.

xo

dee dee said...

Sue,
I so wished I lived closer to you! You have the best recipes...I learn so much from you!
Dee Dee

Jeanette said...

That sounds really good! I wish anyone in my household would eat goat cheese! Sure sounds good though.

Maria said...

Hi Sue, Goat cheeeeeeeese.... Mmmmmm one of THE BEST! My first time having goat cheese, was at a 4-H picnic... someone had made it fresh and it was scooped on a plate like icecream! It was sooooo creamy...
I must try this... combined with pears and walnuts... excellent flavors!
~ Have a sweet weekend ~ Maria

Pinky said...

YUMMO! I will use this with the pork chops I just bought today! Thanks!

Shellbelle said...

These are some of my favorite flavors all rolled together in a salad! Wow, I know I will love this and the dressing sounds superb!

Unknown said...

Sue...you salad looks heavenly. I make a pear and blue cheese salad that I love. I will be trying yours soon :)

Blessings!
Gail

Carey said...

This salad looks delicious I make something similar with apples. I will have to try yours.

Carey

Holly Lefevre said...

No...you do not need t say more...anything with goat cheese...I'm there!

Gypsy Heart said...

I am drooling ~ not a pretty sight! :-) This salad looks delish and I can't wait to try it. Thanks so much for sharing ~

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

xoxo
Pat

Kathleen said...

This is a favorite of mine..never had it with the orange..I use raspberry...
Looks delicious!

Carey said...

Just wanted to let you know I made this salad tonight. It was soooooooo good. I did not think I would like the marmalade but it was great. My husband loved it as well. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.

Lyneen said...

I love goat cheese... I will have to try this... TFS