Pear, Asparagus & Arugula Salad & Orange Vinaigrette

It’s Spring! Fresh ingredients in abundance!  This salad is so loaded with yumminess that it is easy to make it the main dish for lunch or dinner. Hope you enjoy.

Ingredients:

-3 cups of spring mix salad (add peppery Arugula for a great taste)

-1/2 cup of fresh asparagus spears, washed and dryed

-1 to 2 Bartlett pears, sliced thinly

-1/4 cup toasted, chopped pecans

1/4 cup fresh parmesan

1/2 cup cherry tomato

1/4 cup dried cranberries or raisins

1/2 avocado spliced and chopped

There are so many options of this recipe – you can add walnuts, strawberries, apples, fennel, kale, quinoa or pasta – it goes on and on!

Dressing:

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup of Pear Balsamic Vinegar ( you can get this at a specialty store  or grocery)

3 tsp honey

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 minced garlic clove

1 Tbs red wine vinegar

Juice of one orange

Mix all of the above in a mason jar and it will keep for up to a week in the fridge.

Assembly:

Combine all of the salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Use a few pear slices and asparagus slices to enhance the presentation.  Serve on a large serving tray or bowl and slather some of your homemade dressing on!