Apple & Pecan Green Salad with Gorgonzola Dolce
This beautiful salad is light and fresh, a perfect pairing for this week’s brunch fare.
Ingredients:
4 cups of your favorite spring lettuce greens, washed and patted dry
1 apple, cored and diced
½ cup gorgonzola dolce cheese, cut or crumbled into bite-size chunks
¾ cup cocktail pecans
Apple cider vinaigrette (see recipe)
Method:
1. In a large bowl, combine the greens and apple slices, tossing to mix well.
2. Drizzle about ¼ cup of the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to incorporate, then add more as desired. Top salad with the gorgonzola dolce cheese and cocktail pecans. Add more dressing and fresh ground pepper to taste, as needed.
Grilled Peach Salad with Marcona Almonds
With peppery arugula and a red wine vinaigrette, this salad would also be incredible tossed with smoked chicken.
Ingredients:
3-4 peaches, pitted and quartered
¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
½ cup Marcona almonds
3 cups loosely-packed arugula
1 cup crumbled Westward blue cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the grill to medium heat.
2. Add the peaches to a large bowl, drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss to coat. Grill for about 2-3 minutes, flesh side down, until peaches are slightly softened and have grill marks.
3. Meanwhile, make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, vinegar, mustard, honey and remaining ¼ cup olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.
4. Gently toss the warm peaches in the dressing. Serve over a bed of arugula and sprinkle almonds and blue cheese over the top.
Romaine Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing & Roasted Hazelnuts
The salad makes for an excellent accompaniment to this week’s Butternut squash soup.
Ingredients:
1 head Romaine lettuce
F&L blue cheese vinaigrette
½ cup roasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped
Fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Wash Romaine lettuce and drain, patting dry with a paper towel. Remove the core end of the lettuce, and coarsely chop the greens.
2. Place the lettuce in a large bowl and drizzle with the dressing, scattering the roasted hazelnuts over the top. Season generously with fresh ground pepper and serve.
Variation: This salad is also wonderful with chopped bacon bits!
Pasta Night Recipes
In the tradition of our own Nonna Pat’s long-standing Sunday suppers, this week’s lineup includes fixings for a meal to share with your nearest and dearest, starting with a satisfying pasta crafted from organic Italian sausage, tender roasted Robin’s Koginut squash, crisp-edged fall greens and Cherry Valley Dairy’s creamy, herb-kissed fromage blanc, plus Gruyère cheese bread and a well-rounded French wine to serve alongside. Also inside this box: Farm-fresh eggs, beautiful orchard apples and pears and side dish-ready produce like leeks, celery and beautiful salad greens. Enjoy!
Here are a few recipe ideas for the week:
Italian Sausage Pasta with Roasted Squash & Fall Greens
Cozy and comforting, full of flavorful squash and greens, this pasta hits all the right notes.
Apple, Pear & Blue Cheese Salad with Mizuna Greens
Tossed with a light balsamic vinaigrette, this crisp salad is both bold and beautiful.
Slow-Roasted Celery
This unexpected side is sure to be a new favorite.
Frizzled Leeks
These crispy leeks are a wonderful garnish for salads, soups or main dish proteins like beef or pork.
Italian Parsley-Caper Vinaigrette
This adaptation of the pungent vinaigrette from Joshua McFadden’s Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables is magical drizzled over roasted vegetables!
