Shredded Brussels Sprouts Salad with Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

 

Recipe adapted from Home Is Where the Boat Is

Salad Ingredients
:
1 pound Brussels sprouts
1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
6 slices Maple Bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 avocado, diced

Dressing Ingredients:
1 small shallot, finely diced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons maple syrup (use real Maple syrup)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Cook bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels; crumble and set aside.

Rinse Brussels sprouts and slice off the tough woody stems. Remove any bruised or dried-out outer leaves. Shred the sprouts using a food processor fitted with a slicing blade, mandolin or knife. Separate the layers into distinct shreds.

To toast pecans: Heat a skillet on medium-high heat. When pan is hot, add a single layer of nuts. Watch closely and stir frequently with a spatula until the nuts turn golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and spread out on a plate to cool to room temperature.

Make the dressing by combining the chopped shallot, Dijon and balsamic vinegar in a large mixing bowl. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while you whisk to emulsify. Add the maple syrup and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

Add pecans, cranberries, blue cheese, avocado and bacon to the shredded Brussels sprouts. Pour the dressing over salad and toss until all of the ingredients are coated. Serve immediately.

 

Chopped Apple Salad With Toasted Walnuts, Blue Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Total Time:20 minPrep:20 min
——————————————————————————–
Yield:6 to 8
salad
Ingredients
4 apples such as Granny Smith, Gala or Fuji, cored and cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 ounces baby spinach
2 large heads Belgian endive, thinly sliced crosswise
1 1/2 cups walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1/2 pound blue cheese (such as Maytag), crumbled (2 cups)
1 cup Pomegranate Vinaigrette (see below)
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Pomegranate Vinaigrette:
3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 heaping tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey, or more to taste
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Combine the apples, spinach, endive, walnuts and blue cheese in a large bowl. Add the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Pomegranate Vinaigrette:
Whisk together the pomegranate molasses, vinegar, mustard and honey in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until emulsified. The dressing can be made 2 days in advance and stored in a container with a tight-fitting lid in the refrigerator.

Cheesy Zucchini Orzo (with Spinach)

(Loren’s recipe)

(an original recipe from http://bakingdomesticityallthingsmini.blogspot.com/2013/06/cheesy-zucchini-orzo.html but Loren added spinach!)
-makes 4 servings

A few notes: If you’re a heat seeker, try adding red pepper flakes or a dash of buffalo sauce for an extra kick. And, this reheats wonderfully if you can manage not to clear out the pan on the first round!

1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 cup orzo
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt
Ground black pepper
1 medium zucchini, grated (about 2 cups)
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Milk

In a large skillet over medium heat, toss orzo and garlic with oil until fragrant. Add 2 1/2 cups of water and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to boil. Reduce to a simmer and, stirring occasionally so that orzo does not stick to the bottom of pan, cook pasta until al dente and liquid has almost completely evaporated. Stir in zucchini until warmed through. Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted. If needed, add a splash or two of milk to achieve extra creamy texture. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Enjoy alone for a vegetarian dish or topped with a grilled chicken breast!