Pear Salad With Poppy Seed Pear Dressing

It's pear time.

And I've got a pear salad for you

with a pear and poppy seed dressing.

It's a nice touch to your fall menu,

since pears are in season now 

and salads are always in season.

If you'd like a simple soup and salad for lunch,

with an emphasis on fall flavors,

you can't go wrong with this salad

and my butternut and pear soup.

The salad packs colors, flavors, and textures.

Plus it's so pretty!

I started with a sturdy base of fresh romaine,

then tossed in some crisp baby greens

along with a delectable menu of add-ons -

cucumber, craisins, kiwi, grapes, celery,

to name a few.

Then I made up a sweet, slightly tangy and creamy dressing

which paired nicely with the salad ingredients.

The result was a bold presentation

which satisfied completely.

Pear Salad with Poppy Seed and Pear Dressing

Salad fixin’s:

Romaine lettuce

Spinach

Kiwi, peeled and thinly sliced

Cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced

Red onion, chopped

Celery, sliced

Pear and apple, peeled, chopped, and tossed in lemon juice to prevent browning

Red grapes, sliced

Dried cranberries

Candied nuts

Arrange salad ingredients on plates.  Pour dressing over top.

Candied Nuts:

1 cup assorted nuts (I used hazelnuts and almonds.  Walnuts would work well also.)

¼ cup sugar

1 TB water

In small saucepan, combine water and sugar.  Cook over medium heat, stirring, to dissolve sugar.  Bring to boil, then stir in nuts.  Spread nuts in single layer on baking sheet covered with parchment paper.  Lightly sprinkle with sea salt.  Bake at 300° for about 25 minutes, shaking the pan every 5 minutes or so.  Let cool.

Pear and Poppy Seed Dressing:

Juice of one lemon (about ¼ cup)

½ tsp Dijon mustard

1 TB honey

2 TB sugar

1 TB cider vinegar

Pinch kosher salt

Freshly ground pepper

½ cup vegetable oil

1 TB poppy seeds

1 small pear

Combine first seven ingredients, stirring together.  Slowly whisk in oil to form an emulsion.  Core and peel pear, coarsely chop, and then purée.  Add to dressing and stir in poppy seeds until well combined.