Winter Salad

Winter Salad

I served this salad on New Year’s Day. It was a huge success. Easy to assemble and beautiful to plate with tangy cranberries, sweet apples and pears, and crunchy cashews all crowned with a delicious poppy seed vinaigrette.

Salad:
1 head Romaine lettuce
1 apple, diced
1 pear, diced
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1 cup cashews, lightly toasted
4 oz. Swiss cheese, shredded

Dressing:
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp. onion, finely diced
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. poppy seeds

Chill a large serving bowl in refrigerator for 30 minutes. Wash Romaine lettuce and dry completely. Tear into bite-sized pieces and place in cold salad bowl. Layer remaining salad ingredients on top of Romaine.

Prepare dressing in blender or food processor. Process lemon juice, sugar, onion, mustard and salt. Process until well blended. Add vegetable oil in a slow, steady stream and continue processing until thick and smooth. Add poppy seeds and pulse several times.

Pour dressing over salad. Toss and serve immediately.