Recipe: Fall Harvest Salad

Whenever I ask an aunt, my MIL, or friends, "So what do you want me to bring to your house?"  I get the same answer almost every time.  "A green salad."  I think I have now become the unofficial salad queen among friends and family.  I like using a variety of ingredients in salads and they are so versatile you can go the the store or market and just see what looks good.  Here's my latest salad creation that was a hit with the fam.

8 oz. spring mix or spinach well rinsed

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup Crasins

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

1 avocado diced

1/2 small red onion thinly sliced

Dressing:

3 Tbsp. red raspberry jam (no seeds)

3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1/4 C. olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

1. In a small bowl whisk together all the dressing ingredients.  Set aside.
2. In a large bowl toss spring mix, walnuts, Crasins, blue cheese, grape tomatoes, avocado and red onion.
3. Right before serving toss with dressing.

I love this salad because of the slightly sweet dressing with the tang of the blue cheese and crisp flavor of the red onion.  If there is something that you don't like then leave it out.  If you don't have Crasins then chop up a apple and throw that in.  Swap out the walnuts for pecans.  Go salad crazy folks!!