It’s finally starting to feel like fall in Michigan, but the uncharacteristically warm weather we’ve experienced at the end of September has made it difficult to want to fire up my oven and make pumpkin filled baked goods. I still want to taste the flavors of fall, though. I bought a bag of honey crisp apples and started incorporating them into everyday recipes. I’ve included a recipe for the harvest salad I made along with a super simple maple vinaigrette that I topped with sweet and spicy candied pecans. A crisp and fresh way to enjoy the flavors of fall without turning an oven on in 90+ degree temps this year.
for the salad:
Romaine lettuce (chopped or bag mix)
1 apple, sliced
dried cranberries (handful)
candied pecans (small handful)
chicken (optional)
for the maple vinaigrette:
1/4 shallot, finely diced
1 teas Dijon mustard
2 teas balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 teas real maple syrup
salt & pepper to taste
assemble salad to your liking; whisk vinaigrette ingredients together and top or toss salad with vinaigrette before adding the crunchy candied pecans