With only three ingredients, this easy and elegant Winter Pear Salad will elevate your table this holiday season and make you the toast of the town, glitter and all.
My brain is like a squirrel on steroids right now.
…or ♫ “M.C. Hammer on crack, Humpty. That’s all right ’cause my body’s in motion
It’s supposed to look like a fit or a convulsion…”♫
Needless to say, my self diagnosed, yet no less valid, ADD is raring and ready to go. My mind is firing a million miles a minutes, and I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy hormones, work stress, holiday shenanigans or a straight up lack of booze in my life, but I’ve written this intro about twelve times and gone twenty different directions; not a single one was coherent either. I actually went on a tangent about Kings and Queens with peppermint strudels and snickerbread doodles.
Yeah, so um, I think I really need a barrel of beer, which is ironic since it never appealed to me much before. I was always a cider girl, yet the tiny human taking over my insides appears to be drawn to hops and yeast.
Instead of fighting my crazy though, I’ve decided to embrace it, which means we’re going bullet points today and we’re doing it Out Loud and all over the place. The messier, the better. Thanks for hosting Ms. Amanda.
- I am tired of seeing dessert recipes splattered all over the internet.
- Mainly because I don’t have the motivation to make them.
- It’s much more practical if they’re live and in person, like the two cupcakes I housed yesterday.
- Oops, my bad.
- I would have rather had a beer.
- It might have made the politics go down… ♫ the politics go down, the politics go down, in the most delightful way. ♫
- Not really.
- The debates remind me of a political versus of the Housewives, only bitchier.
- They really should get Andy Cohen to cohost.
- ♫ The Humpty Dance it’s your chance, do the hump. ♫
- Go with it, it’s easier.
- Speaking of, raise your hand if you’re easy.
- Or want easy in your life right now.
- Or don’t give a damn which version I’m talking about.
- I am seeking simplicity in so many ways.
- Especially in my edibles.
- A girl’s gotta eat.
- And a pregnant woman needs to eat about thirty seconds after she realizes it.
- Which is why this Winter Pear Salad is perfect.
- It’s simplicity in spades.
- It’s only three total ingredients, no cooking involved.
- It’s sweet without being chocolate.
- It’s salty without being overt.
- And it’s hydrating thanks to the pears.
- It’s also packed with vitamins, minerals, the right kinds of fat and fiber galore.
- Yeah, it screams healthy and tastes phenomenal too.
- All while being easy to make and elegant on your plate.
- Or bowl.
- Whatever, you get the idea.
Make this salad. Share it with your loved ones. You, the Humpty Dance, Andy Cohen and Mary Poppins can thank me later.
- 2 Ripe Pears, Anjou, Bartlett, or Bosc*
- 2 Tbsps. Blue Cheese, crumbled
- 3 Tbsps. Walnuts or Candied Walnuts**
- Wash and chop pears into bite sized chunks. Add to a serving bowl, top with blue cheese crumbles and walnuts.
- *The most important part is your pears are ripe. Cut a small piece off. If it's soft and juicy, go for it. If it's hard and less than sweet, hold off or choose a different pear.
- **Feel free to use regular walnuts or Candied Walnuts. I've used both with equal success. My recipe for Candied Walnuts is the link right below.
What’s your favorite non-green salad? Are you craving simplicity right now too? Tell me about it.
Looks yummy, and I’m sorry for splashing dessert recipes all over the internet without providing same desserts to your face.
Kirsten recently posted…Orange & Beet Smoothie with Cranberries and Maple Syrup
Yes, I would like some desserts for my face place. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Easy and Elegant Winter Pear Salad
Was just saying to Adam last night that I keep thinking I’m watching SNL when I look at the debates. Hard to take seriously! I love how simple this is and I’m totally adding it to the menu when my family comes this weekend 🙂
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Everything I Ate Last Thursday {WIAW}
Yes, it’s the perfect salad for hosting company: easy, visually appealing, unusual and yet delicious. Please do tell let me know what your family thinks.
Meghan recently posted…Easy and Elegant Winter Pear Salad
*raises hand* Ha. Okay so this looks perfect. I’m going to substitute the blue cheese with goat cheese or something though, is that okay?
Suzy recently posted…Woozy Wednesday: Cock’nFireballs
What, no blue cheese. Grumble, grumble. Alright fine, I’ll accept it since you raised your hand….I did too when I proofread the post. 🙂
I bet feta would be a suitable substitute.
Meghan recently posted…Easy and Elegant Winter Pear Salad
I think Andy Cohen would be the perfect host! The debates are more ridiculous than their parodies on SNL. They just can’t make them sillier than they already are. This salad looks perfect! I love every single thing about it. And three ingredients is my idea of happy.
Danielle recently posted…Week in Review: Wino Santa’s
I’m right there with you. I can’t even handle watching them anymore.
Three ingredients is where it’s at…I’ve got two turn tables and a microphone.
Meghan recently posted…Easy and Elegant Winter Pear Salad
Let’s bring some Beck to the party, that is a fab idea! and Digital Underground. I love your musical tones mama.
Well today I talk about Snoop Lodi Dodi, and I’ll probably listen to Cat Stevens on the way to work this morning. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Confessions Out Loud
Easy is never wrong. Never! Especially in a hectic time like now. Hence all the smoothies!
I can vividly imagine how the juicy ripe pears, the crunchy nuts and the crumbly and melting cheese just fit together perfectly and explode in a bite full of bliss. I am such a sucker for combining different flavors AND textures.
Must hunt down ripe pears!!!
Juli@1000lovelythings recently posted…Spicy Baked Meatballs stuffed with Cheese
This reminds me of your delicious buttered bread. Simple and easy, yet completely fantastic and delicious.
Meghan recently posted…Easy and Elegant Winter Pear Salad
Candied walnuts + blue cheese -> it was meant to be! One of my favorite restaurant salads uses this combination, but berries instead of apples. I like how the apples can stand on their own in this one though!
Kate recently posted…Chickpea Monday (WIAW)
I think you mean pears…. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Easy and Elegant Winter Pear Salad
Told you this combo was amazing! Next time add dried cranberries… Vamps up the awesomeness!
And I have finally narrowed down what treats to make for Christmas – gah there was too much choice out there and it’s so overwhelming, So I decided to keep it simple. I went with the tactic of ‘if I ain’t got the ingredients in the house then it’s a no go’ so that narrowed down the choices a lot!
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…5 Top Tips on a Tuesday – How to organise your Christmas dinner!
Oh yes I agree. It’s one of my favorite combos too and I indulge every year around this time, while pears are still in season.
I think that’s a fantastic way to narrow down your options. It’s definitely how I roll in CSA season.
Meghan recently posted…Easy and Elegant Winter Pear Salad
As someone who just does not ‘get’ politics, it all seems like a huge joke to me. Like, none of this can actually be legit, since everything I hear about it (since I do not have the attention span to actually watch it, no thanks.) could not come from anyone’s mouth, much less incredibly well educated people.
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood recently posted…The Best of 24.
I know, the debates are unbelievable in a horrific way. I can’t stomach them either but the Hubby watches every one so I can’t help but hear them bicker like a bunch of old ladies in the background.
Meghan recently posted…Confessions Out Loud
I love that ‘easy’ and ‘elegant’ came in the same sentence. This looks good, except I’m just not a gouda cheese fan. Could you do a different kind of cheese, maybe feta?
Emiyl recently posted…Favorite Peanut Butter Gift Guide
Anytime easy and elegant can be combined, I’m going all in. 🙂
The salad uses Blue Cheese, not Gouda so you might be ok, although Feta would work too.
Meghan recently posted…Confessions Out Loud
I’d like to read a short story about Kings and Queens with peppermint strudels and snickerbread doodles. When you have time, please.
Maybe in that story you can put in some political leaders battling it up against the real housewives. Big Brother style.
This combo would feed all three sides of my taste and texture needs. Only, le blue will have to go in lieu of goat or feta. Sorry old cheese. Now I really need to make your nuts.
mylittletablespoon recently posted…Kabocha! Two “One Pot” ways to use
I love Big Brother. 🙂
What? No blue? Gasp. You don’t know what you’re missing although I say give the Feta a try. It should work too.
Meghan recently posted…Confessions Out Loud
These 3 ingredients gel so well! Fantastic salad Meg!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan recently posted…Gluten Free Molasses Cookies
Thanks! I’m a big fan of this flavor combination; always have been. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Confessions Out Loud
Apologies for posting nothing but dessert/snack recipes. What’s say we get together and you make lunch/dinner and I’ll make dessert. Deal? Deal. God knows I’m too lazy to cook actual meals, but I’m more than happy to invest that time into dessert. That being said, I’d put the effort into this salad, because o.m.g the combo of flavours sounds incredible. Who needs green salads, anyways? Throw those suckers into smoothies.
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…thinking out loud #161
It’s a deal. I’ll get dinner ready, you bring dessert.
Meghan recently posted…Confessions Out Loud
Pears in general are just such an elegant fruit!! Love them!
GiGi Eats recently posted…Star Wars, The Cookie Force Is Strong
You and me both. I adore pears this time of year.
Meghan recently posted…Confessions Out Loud
This might be my favorite salad ever and that is because it has no greens.
Wait, it has pears. But the cheese and candied nuts trump it!
Arman @ thebigmansworld recently posted…Healthy Four Ingredient Breakfast Brownies
Not if you buy the purple pears. See no greens, plus cheese.