Got Apples? Apple and Gorgonzola Salad with Cornbread

I know you can get apples anytime of the year, but September apples always seem to be the best, especially in the Midwest.  Straight from the farm!  (Well not all of them are, but I like to get local/regional apples as much as possible).  So, if you have apples...here is another idea for ya...

Apple and Gorgonzola Salad

 This salad is so refreshing and tastes of the beginning of fall.  Notice I said beginning, it's not yet!  Anyway, since it is kind of a rustic salad, I like serving it with cornbread too.  They seem to compliment one another very nicely.  I also make my own dressing, just tastes better I think.

Here's what you do:

For the cornbread-

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Grease a cake pan.  Mix together until just moistened, 1 1/4 cup flour, 3/4 cup cornmeal, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup vegetable oil and 1 beaten egg.  Pour into the greased cake pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.

While that is baking, assemble your salad.

 

For the salad-

Combine a 1/2 bag of spinach lettuce and 1/2 bag of romaine lettuce.  Toss with a package of bacon bits, dried/sweet cranberries, honey roasted pecan pieces, 5oz gorgonzola cheese and a Granny Smith apple that has been sliced.  Now add the dressing.

*You can find the cranberries and honey roasted pecans in the produce section, near the salad.

For the dressing-

Whisk together 1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar, 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp honey, 1/4 tsp salt, ground pepper to taste and 3 Tbsp olive oil.

Pour on the dressing and toss your salad.
Now your salad is ready at just about the same time your cornbread is done.  All depends on how quick an assembler you can be!

I do love salads!  The more stuff in it, the better!

If you got apples...think salad!

Celebrate the little things that make life sweet!

Christine