PEAR AND BLUE CHEESE SALAD

Makes 4 servings

1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1.5 cups grape juice
6 cups assorted young greens, torn into bite-sized pieces
2 pears – peeled & sliced
6 Tab crumbled blue cheese
2 shallots, sliced
1 cl garlic, halved
1 Tab Dijon mustard (prepared?)
2 Tab balsamic vinegar

1. Put walnuts into medium saucepan, over a medium heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until nicely toasted (watch them carefully as they burn easily). Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

2.  Pour grape juice into same pan. Bring to boil over medium-high heat until reduced in volume by half. Remove pan from heat and allow to cool while you prepare the salads.

3.  Divide greens among 4 serving plates. Arrange pear slices evenly over top of the greens. Sprinkle pears with the blue cheese.

4.  Pour the reduced liquid into a food processor. Add shallots, garlic, mustard & vinegar and puree. Drizzle mixture over the salads, sprinkle with walnuts.

GARLIC DIP WITH COTTAGE CHEESE

100g each of  cottage cheese and blue cheese
1 Tab butter
pinch salt
1/2 Tab chopped spring onion
1 clove crushed garlic
1/3 cup well drained chopped olives

Blend cheeses, butter, onion and garlic, stir in olives.
Season to taste and chill.