This is a recipe I got from one of my favorite celebrity cooks, Ina Garten. This is from her “Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics” cookbook. The combination of savory with the nuts and blue cheese along with the sweet from the apple and cranberries makes this a perfect and easy salad. The dressing is the final topping that’s sweet from the orange juice and maple syrup and savory from the Dijon mustard. Dave liked this salad so much, he had seconds.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the slices of bacon on a lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the bacon has cooked completely. Place the bacon on a plate lined with paper towels to drain. After the bacon has cooled, chop into ¼ inch pieces and set aside.
Make the dressing and set aside.
In a bowl, combine all the salad ingredients.
Toss with the amount of dressing you like and serve immediately. This makes 4-5 servings.
