Chopped Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing

**found in April 2011, Food And Wine Magazine

Total Prep: 25 minutes

This is the perfect salad for those who LOVE Blue Cheese: wisk some cheese into the vinaigrette, then sprinkle more on top of the salad before serving.

1/2 cup walnuts

1 Tbsp. very finely chopped shallot

1 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard

3 tbsp. Cider Vinegar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

4 oz. blue cheese, crumbled

2 romaine hearts, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise

1/2 fennel bulb, cored and finely chopped

2 carrots, finely chopped

1/2 seedless cucumber, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 Fuji apple, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 Hass avocado, cut into 1/2-inch dice

2 Tbsp. thinly shredded basil leaves

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Spread the walnuts in a pie plate and toast them for about 10 minutes, until they are golden.  Let cool, then coarsely chop.

2. In a large bowl, whisk the shallot with the Dijon mustard and cider vinegar and season generously with salt and pepper.  Add the olive oil and whisk until smooth.  Add half of the blue cheese and whisk until the dressing is creamy.  Add the lettuce, fennel, carrots, cucumber, apple, avocado, basil and walnuts and season with salt and pepper.  Toss the salad well to coat with the dressing.  Top with the remaining blue cheese and serve right away.

Enjoy! xoxo Julie

http://www.goodiegoodiegluten-free.blogspot.com/