Anything-You-Love Salad with Blue Cheese and Pecans

Until recently I didn't love blue cheese. But a good friend made me a salad with blue cheese crumbles, pecans, and this dressing and I fell in love.

Here's my today version salad with a flavorful shallot dressing.



For the salad:

• Arugula, Boston lettuce, or any green of your choice (I have also made it with pea shoots!)
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• 2 slices of smoked turkey, shredded or sliced
• A nice chunk of blue cheese, broken up (today I had Livradois Bleu D'Auvergne from Whole Foods - it was so yummy!)
• 2 Tbs or more of chopped pecans
• Slices of ripe pear (I didn't have any today, but usually I love to add it on top!)

Shallot Dressing

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot (1 small)
• 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• A few grinds of fresh black pepper

Whisk together oil, shallot, vinegar, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a jar.
Toss with salad and fixings and enjoy!

Dressing adapted from: http://m.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spinach-and-Endive-Salad-with-Pecans-and-Blue-Cheese-236012