Spiced Pecan-Apple Salad .....

Spiced Pecan-Apple Salad

 Trimming calories or keeping the kitchen cool, this salad is the ticket!

Ingredients:

1 2/3 cups pecan pieces

3 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

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1/2 cup olive oil or salad oil

2 tablespoons sherry wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon Dijon-style mustard

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1 large Red Delicious apple

2 teaspoon lemon juice

1 head red leaf lettuce torn into bite size pieces

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

Butterhead lettuce (Bibb or Boston) leaves

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Directions:

Pecans: Line a 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan with foil. Spread pecans in an even layer. In a small sauce pan heat and stir butter cinnamon, salt and cayenne pepper over low heat until melted. Drizzle butter mixture over pecans; stir gently to coat the nuts. Bake in a 350 oven for 10 to 125 minutes or until the pecans are golden and aromatic.. Cool in pan on wire rack.

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Vinaigrette: In a screw top jar, combine oil, vinegar and mustard. Cover and shake well; set aside.

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Salad: Core and chop the apple; place in a large bowl. Sprinkle lemon juice over apple; stir to gently coat the pieces. Add leaf lettuce and feta cheese to apple in bowl; toss to combine. Shake vinaigrette; drizzle vinaigrette over salad. Toss to coat. Line bowls with butterhead lettuce leaves. Top the lettuce with the salad mixture. Top with spiced pecans and sprinkle with cracked pepper, if you like. Serve the salad. Makes 8 to 10 servings.