Roquefort Pear Salad

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup pecans
• 0.25 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1.5 teaspoons white sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons prepared mustard
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• fresh ground black pepper to taste
• 1 head green leaf lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
• 3 medium pears – peeled, cored and chopped
• 5 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled
• 1 medium avocado – peeled, pitted, and diced
• 0.5 cup thinly sliced green onions

Steps

1. Gather all ingredients.
2. To make the candied pecans: Combine pecans and sugar in a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring gently, until sugar has melted and pecans are caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes.
3. Carefully transfer nuts onto a sheet of waxed paper to cool.
4. While the nuts are cooling, make the dressing: Whisk oil, vinegar, sugar, mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.
5. To make the salad: Layer lettuce, pears, Roquefort cheese, avocado, and green onions in a large serving bowl. Pour dressing over top.
6. Break cooled pecans into pieces and sprinkle over salad.