Baby Greens Salad With Cranberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

This is a lovely salad for a holiday brunch or dinner party! The dressing is so yummy!! I've subbed a mild blue cheese for the goat cheese, and both are equally tasty. From Mary Ann Vitale, owner of La Taverna Restaurant in La Jolla CA.

• Ready In: 21 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup  balsamic vinegar
• 1  cup whole berry cranberry sauce
• 1  shallot, finely chopped
• 1  cup extra virgin olive oil
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped walnuts
• 10  cups  baby greens
• 8  ounces  goat cheese, crumbled
• 1⁄2 cup dried cranberries

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix the vinegar, cranberry sauce and shallot. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
3. Place the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast for 5 to 7 minutes; set walnuts aside.
4. To serve the salad, toss the greens with enough of the vinaigrette to moisten and arrange on plates.
5. Sprinkle each salad with goat cheese, dried cranberries and toasted walnuts.