Spinach Salad with Pears and Gorgonzola

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Pears with gorgonzola is  just one of those classic combinations. Put them in salad with any kind of greens. Pick what you like best, anything from a spicy arugula or watercress to a mild butter lettuce.We used fresh baby spinach.The same goes for the pears: Bosc, Bartlett, Anjou or Comice would all be great choices.

And since the ingredients in this pear salad are so delicious, a champagne vinaigrette with a hint of lemon juice and Dijon mustard worked best for this salad. A heavy dressing would mask the delicate flavors.  A sprinkling of cheese, walnuts and  pomegranate arils also adds flavors and makes for  delicious lighter first course to start off a meal.

Serves 4

Ingredients:
1 tablespoons minced shallot
Salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
10 ounces baby spinach, washed and dried
4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese*
1 medium Bosc pear, cored and thinly sliced*
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (arils), for garnish
1/2 toasted walnuts, roughly chopped, for garnish

Champagne Vinaigrette:
1/4 cup champagne vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions:
For the Salad:
In a large bowl, add shallot,  salt and pepper. Add the olive oil, whisking constantly while drizzling the oil slowly. Add the spinach and toss with tongs until the leaves are well coated.

For Champagne Vinaigrette:
In a small bowl or glass jar, add all the ingredients except the olive oil. Mix well, then slowly drizzle in the olive oil  and whisk until the mixture is emulsified. Refrigerate until ready to use.

To serve, evenly divide spinach greens between 4 salad plates. Top each plate with cheese and garnish with pear slices, pomegranate seeds, and walnuts and serve with a drizzle of champagne vinaigrette.

*Cook’s Notes:
You can substitute Blue cheese or Roquefort cheese for the Gorgonzola.
Any variety of apple can also be used as a substitute for the pears.

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Thai Chicken Satay

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If you like Thai food and it amazing combination of  flavors, then you are going to love this recipe for Thai Chicken Satay. And the best part about this recipe is that the chicken can be BAKED OR GRILLED and we have  included instructions for baking or indoor/outdoor grilling so you can make this recipe year round – because you will want to make this recipe year round. I am specifically posting it RIGHT NOW. Not only will it be a showstopping main dish for a backyard barbecue, but you will want to have it for a special occasion or a holiday meal, later on in the year, like for Christmas or New Year’s. And to get even more mileage out this recipe, simple use chicken wings to make a fantastic appetizer!

Serve 4 to 6

Ingredients:
2 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks
2 cups low-fat plain yogurt
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon yellow curry powder
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon chili oil
1 cup prepared Thai peanut sauce, extra  for serving
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
1 tablespoon chopped unsalted peanuts, for garnish
Lime wedges, for serving
Cooked Jasmine Rice, for serving

Directions:
In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, ground coriander, curry powder, fish sauce,  chili oil and peanut sauce. Add the chicken and stir to coat. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for best results.

Line a baking sheet with foil and add marinated chicken, discarding excess yogurt. Bake for 18–20 minutes or until an internal thermometer registers 165°F when inserted into the thickest part of the meat. Set broiler to high. Place chicken under broiler for 4 minutes until golden brown.

Transfer the chicken  to a serving plate, and garnish with  cilantro and peanuts. Serve with limes,  peanut sauce for dipping and jasmine rice for a main course.

Cook’s Notes:
One 14-ounce can of coconut milk can be used as substitute for the yogurt.

TO GRILL: Grease an indoor or outdoor grill and heat to medium heat. Once hot, grill chicken approximately 10-12 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through (internal temp of 165 º F).

Add reserved Sauce to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat then stir in 1/2 cup peanut butter until completely combined. If you prefer a thinner sauce, stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time. Taste and add additional chili sauce if desired for a spicier sauce.

All photographs and content are copyright protected. Please do not use these photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish this photograph and all other contents, then we kindly ask that you link back to this site. We are eternally grateful and we appreciate your support of this blog.

Thank you so much!

 

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