By Cindy Adams
Want to add an elegance experience to your holiday meal? I recommend a Cranberry Beef Bourguignon meal for the perfect December dinner. Serve with French Onion Soup, Honeycrisp Salad and Creamy Mashed Potatoes to delight your family and guests. For added cheer, be sure to serve Homemade Holiday Eggnog. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy a meal around the table with family and friends. Most of my favorite memories of the holiday season involve being gathered in the kitchen or around the dinner table. So, from my family to yours, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Holiday Honeycrisp Salad
This beautiful Holiday Honeycrisp Salad is full of flavor and texture, with fresh apple slices, crunchy toasted pecans, dried cranberries, blue cheese, and a tangy-sweet apple cider vinaigrette.
INGREDIENTS:
1⁄2 cup light vegetable oil, such as sunflower or safflower OR extra-virgin olive oil
1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
1⁄4 cup unsweetened apple juice OR apple cider
2 to 3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 medium Honeycrisp apples (about 1 pound), thinly sliced
Juice of 1⁄2 lemon
12 ounces salad greens, spring mix, baby spinach, arugula, baby romaine, OR a combo of your favorites
1 cup pecan halves, toasted or candied
3⁄4 cup dried cranberries OR dried cherries
4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. To prepare Apple Cider Vinaigrette, measure oil, apple cider vinegar, apple juice/cider, honey, lemon juice, salt, and pepper into a mason jar. Tightly screw on lid and shake vigorously until everything is thoroughly combined. Alternatively, you may briskly whisk the ingredients together in a medium bowl or blend them in a blender or mini food processor.
2. Place apple slices in a large plastic baggie and squeeze the fresh lemon juice (from the lemon half ) over them. Close bag and shake to coat. In a large salad bowl, layer salad greens, apple slices, pecans, dried cranberries, and blue cheese. Just before serving, dress with desired amount of Apple Cider Vinaigrette and toss until salad ingredients are evenly coated.
