Warm Spinach and Pear Salad With Bacon Dressing

Serve as a firt course, or a light luncheon dish with whole grain bread. You can vary the flavor and texture by substituting apples, peaches, papayas or melon for the pear. Taken from the Family Circle Cookbook.

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1 (10 ounce) bag spinach, rinsed dried and torn into bite-size pieces
• 4  slices bacon
• 1  tablespoon  vegetable oil
• 1  small onion, diced
• 2  tablespoons cider vinegar
• 1  teaspoon spicy brown mustard
• 1⁄2 teaspoon sugar
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon pepper
• 1  pear, cored and thinly sliced

Directions

1. Place spinach in large bowl.
2. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp.
3. Remove to paper towel to drain.
4. Discard all but 3 tablespoons of bacon drippings from skillet.
5. Add oil to drippings in skillet and heat.
6. Add onion; cook until tender, about 3 minutes.
7. Stir in vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper.
8. Bring to boiling.
9. Remove from heat.
10. Add pear to spinach.
11. Pour hot dressing over spinach and pear; toss well to coat.
12. Crumble bacon and sprinkle over salad.
13. Serve immediately.