Pear Sauce

A friend of mine asked if I'd ever made "pear-sauce"...you know like applesauce only with pears? I never had! So when I had tons of pears that somehow got way too ripe (and I prefer to eat them crisp like apples) pear sauce it was! All you need are really ripe pears and water! Easy and delicious!

In large pot bring to a boil:
pears (peeled, cored, and cut into chunks)
water (just enough to cover the bottom of your pan approx. 1/3 c.)
-Simmer covered for a few minutes until pears soft. Mash by hand, in blender, or food processor. Add cinnamon if desired. Serve warm or cold.
-Keeps in fridge for 1 week or freeze for up to 6 months.

Shredded Spinach Salad

I ate a delicious spinach salad at a restaurant where they cut up the spinach like a basil chiffonade. I thought it was a fun twist to the usual "spinach" salad and tastes different somehow. So make your favorite spinach salad, toss with your dressing and enjoy the change!

Pictured: Spinach, diced pear, craisins, gorgonzola, sugared pecans with red wine vinegar dressing (or make this recipe: http://halehealthyrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/04/spinach-salad-with-pomegranate-dressing.html)

Spinach Salad with Pomegranate Dressing

This is a salad I've created after eating many similar salads at restaurants. You can use any sort of sweet berry-like dressing, or you can try my dressing recipe below. You'll find I tend to make my own salad dressings. They are so easy and you don't have extra preservatives...

Spinach (can use other lettuces too)
craisins or fresh pomegranate seeds
diced apple or firm pears or apples
crumbled blue cheese (can use feta, but I prefer blue cheese for this)
sliced radishes (optional)
sugared or toasted pecans (every salad needs a crunch!)

Pomegranate Dressing:
1/4 c. pomegranate balsamic vinegar
1/3 c. light olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
14 grinds fresh pepper
1 TBS white sugar

-Note: Cuisine Perel sells many different kinds of specialty vinegars. It is a bit expensive, but you can make a lot of dressing from one bottle (and I think it's worth it!).

Fruit Cocktail

This was a common breakfast or dinner side dish in my home growing up. It is simple and works well all year round. Just use fruit in season (not canned!!!).

Winter Combo as pictured:

Serves 6

1 apple, diced

1 firm pear, diced

1 cup red grapes

1 banana, diced

2 oranges, peeled and sliced

Other optional add ins:

pineapple

strawberries (if available, these add a great color punch!)

pomegranate seeds

-Place all diced fruit in bowl and pour in a type of juice such as orange juice, peach juice, pineapple/mango combo, until fruit 2/3 submerged. Serve up :-)

Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

Another salad favorite. Combine any ratio with any combination of the following ingredients!

My usual combination:
Spinach
Romaine lettuce
Red leaf lettuce
craisins
firm pear, sliced
swiss chcese, grated
toasted almonds
bacon, cooked and crumbled (I like use pre-cooked bacon then just place a few pieces on a paper towel and zap it in the microwave for a minute, dry off additional grease then crumble)

Can also add: sugared almonds, strawberries or diced apples instead of pears), mushrooms, red onion, avacado

Poppy Seed Dressing (Yes make it!):

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3/4 TB Poppy seeds

1/3 cup white vinegar

¾ cup light olive oil

1/4 cup sugar

1 TB grated onion (purple or regular)

¾ tsp salt

1 tsp prepared Heinz mustard