Harvest Salad

In October, when we harvest our Bosc pears, we always have way more than we can eat fresh. Because I'm not a fan of canning and no one wants to eat a frozen pear, I dehydrate them instead. I don't know where you can buy them already dehydrated, maybe at a health food store. The Bosc are superior for dehydrating over other pears because they have a firmer texture and hold up well under processing.  Here's a link if you'd like to know more about Bosc pears:

http://usapears.com/Recipes%20And%20Lifestyle/Now%20Serving/Pears%20and%20Varieties/Bosc.aspx 

This salad is packed with nutrients and is very satisfying with it's complex textures and flavors.  I usually dress it simply with lemon juice and olive oil, salt and pepper, but you can make a balsamic vinaigrette (1 part vinegar to two parts olive oil) or use any sweet store-bought dressing.  The Costco balsamic vinegar dressing is very good!

6 C spinach
1/2 C dried pears
1/2 C walnuts
1/4 C dried cranberries (optional)
1/4 C blue cheese, crumbled

Combine and enjoy!