Bleu Cheese and Apple Salad

This is one of my favorite salads! I make it year round but fall is the best time to make it when the apples are fresh and crisp. This salad is also really easy to vary. You can change the they type of cheese, apple, nuts, and lettuce. Just keep in mind that you want your apple and cheese to compliment each other. For instance, if you have a sweeter apple, use a sharper cheese. I'm using bleu cheese and granny smith apples because the rich and creaminess of the bleu cheese pairs well with the sour crunch of the apple.

1 pkg of spring mix lettuce
1 granny smith apple
8 oz. of bleu cheese crumbles
1 handful of walnuts
1 handful of currants or raisins (currants are a sweeter version of raisins)
1/2 cup of your favorite balsamic dressing (I'll post a few balsamic dressing recipes later)
1/2 tbsp of course black pepper

1. Put the pkg of spring mix lettuce into a mixing bowl.
2. Add the bleu cheese and currants into the bowl.
3. Put a small pan on the stove. Heat the pan on medium heat and add the walnuts once the pan is heated. This shouldn't take much time at all. Once you start smelling the nuts, it's time to take them off the heat.
4. Once the walnuts are cooling, thinly slice the apple. They should be large slices but very thinly cut. Place them in the bowl
5. Once the walnuts are cool, place them on a cutting board and run your knife through them (just a rough chop). Place them in the bowl.
6. Add the pepper and dressing to the bowl. Toss the salad so the dressing covers all of it. You can add more dressing if you feel that you need it but be careful when doing that with balsamic dressing. It is very acidic and you don't want it to overpower the salad.
7. You can toast some stale wheat bread if you want and then crumble it over the salad as croutons. (Optional)

This salad goes great with lemon chicken or grilled steak!

To make this salad into an entree salad, try adding some grilled chicken.