Pear Salad

It dawned on me that pear season is coming to an end fairly soon. Better to get them while they're still in the market and don't cost a fortune. Boy #2 has soccer practice at 5:30, so that means quick dinner on our return. This is easy to make ahead or make in steps. I did the rice early on and just now put it all together. It will be great with the piece of fish I'm planning to cook. (And came home to find the fish still frozen solid. Hot dogs instead.)

Pear Salad
Makes 6 servings
Prep Time: About 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes (rice)
Adapted from www.usarice.com/consumer

3 cups cooked long grain brown rice
1 large firm pear (I used D'Anjou because the others felt like baseballs), cored and diced
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese
1/3 cup ready-made vinaigrette (I use http://www.garlic-expressions.com/ because it's a really
versatile product)
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
salt to taste
1/3 cup dried cranberries (optional)


Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Toss to coat. Top with dried cranberries.

Ingredients go together in a snap

The finished product. Note the Cub Scout Requirement growing in the background. Pumpkins.