Fall Grape Salad with Blue Cheese and Walnuts (or Pecans)

In my area of the Pacific Northwest the weather is really lovely as we transition from summer to fall. 
 Vegetable and fruit gardens are giving their best and we seem to appreciate their bounty more ~ soon it will betime to put the garden beds to rest for the winter, thetrees will drop their leaves and become dormant.
Although the days can warm up to the 80's and 90's ~the evenings cool down to to low 60's making sleep comfortable.
Still spending lots of time outdoors during the daywe look for easy, light meals ~ salads always seem fit the bill.

The first one I'm featuring this week is one I've made for several years,you've probably seen one like it or a variation ~it goes well with grilled food, or as a salad meal by itself.





No recipe needed, just wash and slice yourfavorite combination of seedless grapes in half, slicesome celery, tear some romaine lettuce into bite-size pieces (I used baby romaine),crumble some blue cheese (can use feta cheese,goat cheese, or any cheese you like; if using a firmcheese, it works best if you dice it rather than shredit as it will hold it's shape and texture better.)
Instead of walnuts you can use whatever nuts you like.I always toast them in a 350ºF oven for a few minutes untillightly golden and fragrant.  As they cool they will become pleasantlycrunchy and much more flavorful. 


Almost time to buy more.  (Hint: Always keep opened nut oils in the refrigerator, they go rancid rapidly at room temperature.)

I always dress with a light vinaigrette  (I use Julia Child's recipe) just before serving.
If you have a nut oil that complements the nut you areusing in the salad, by all means use it in your vinaigrette.But if not, grape seed oil or any neutral oil works well for this salad.
You can prepare this salad a couple of hours ahead (covered and refrigerated), but do not add the toasted nuts, cheese, or dressing until the last possible moment for best results.

I hope you're enjoying these final days of summer too.




Thank you for stopping by ~ your comments make my day!

~ Mari

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