Spinach and Blue Cheese Salad With Cider Vinaigrette

This is a great salad for fall when the local farms start offering apple picking. The flavors of the spinach, blue cheese, apples and cider vinaigrette complement each other beautifully. Use a good artisan blue cheese in this.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1  tablespoon dijon-style mustard
• 1  tablespoon honey
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper, fresh ground
• 3  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  shallot, minced (about 3 Tbs)
• 1⁄4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 (6 ounce) bag  Baby Spinach
• 1  large apple, sliced
• 1⁄2 cup blue cheese, crumbled

Directions

1. To make the Cider Vinaigrette: Combine vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and pepper in small bowl. Whisk in oil and 2 T water. Stir in shallots.
2. To make Salad: Place sunflower seeds in medium-sized skillet. Toast over medium heat 5 to 6 minutes, or until browned and fragrant, shaking pan often. Transfer to small bowl and cool.
3. Just before serving, toss spinach, sliced apple, crumbled cheese and cooled sunflower seeds with vinaigrette.