Pear Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing

Pear Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing is a cinch to whip up! The salad is full of beautifully contrasting colors and the homemade Honey Balsamic Dressing pairs perfectly with the pear, blue cheese, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. Salads are sometimes underrated and seen as a filler. I think a beautifully crafted salad is an experience and when the taste tantalizes the taste buds it gets you excited for the next course. Not to mention, filling your stomach with a good for you salad will help settle your hunger before the main course. Most importantly, starting dinner with a handcrafted salad gives you a little more time to linger at your table with your loved ones, which is the best part of a meal!

The Honey Balsamic Dressing is made with pantry stapes and takes no time at all to make. The dressing has a nice balance and is not overly sweet or too vinegary. Whipping up a homemade dressing is much healthier than using store-bought salad dressing. I know, it seems a little daunting for some reason. Maybe it is just that buying a bottle of dressing is so much easier. Trust me though, once you make your own, you will be hooked! This dressing is easy enough for everyday but fancy enough to impress company.

This salad can easily be made into a meal by doubling up on the pear, blue cheese, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries or by topping it with grilled organic chicken.

Pear Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing

Ingredients:
spring mix or baby romaine
pear slices
blue cheese crumbles
sunflower seeds
dried cranberries
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/8 cup honey
1/8 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon low-sodium soy sauce

Directions:
1. Whisk balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, and soy sauce together until blended.
    Slowly add olive oil to mixture while whisking to help evenly combine dressing
    ingredients.

2. For one serving, toss 2 cups of spring mix with 1-2 Tablespoons of dressing.

3. Top tossed spring mix with pear slices, blue cheese crumbles, sunflower seeds, and
    dried cranberries.

*The leftover dressing can be kept in the refrigerator for one week.

If you are serving a large family or company I would double the dressing. I tend to make small amounts because it is just Cody and I! If you are having company and plan on serving this Pear Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing the dressing would look nice presented in a small mason jar. I just love the rustic feel of mason jars and it would be a perfect look for this type of harvest salad. I hope you enjoy!