After vacation last month and a slow start getting back into the swing of things, these last couple of weeks feel like we’re settling back into old routines. Slow mornings aided by snooze buttons (why is it so much harder to get up when it gets chilly out?) later evenings in the office with a salad and extra coffee with PSL syrup. On my commutes I tap out ideas for these posts on my phone, or play with Steller. Other times I doze off on the person next to me and things get awkward.
Lately, in an effort to keep my forehead from landing on my neighbors’ shoulders, I’ve been reading a lot — the ubiquitous Fault in Our Stars; The French Lieutenant’s Woman; South of the Border, West of the Sun; on Molly’s rec, Jeffrey Steingarten’s awesome and hilarious essay compilations. Reading food writing (well, the non-blog kind) is new for me, but awesome — I’ve been nose-deep in One Souffle at a Time by Anne Willan, and I’m super loving it so far.
To be totally honest, I’m a spring and summer girl all the way. But I kind of savor the evenings after busy fall days in a certain way that I don’t summer nights. Bowl #2 puts on some TV series or another (right now, a rewatch of How I Met Your Mother — yess) while he keeps working and I pretend to work but actually just lie prostrate under the favorite extra-nubbly throw blanket I’ve been longing for since May, nursing a cup of hot tea. We stay up too late, then spend too long talking in bed, leading to … another slow, snoozed-alarm morning, when it starts all over again.
Awhile back, when we were still in the midst of summer and spontaneity, B2 and I trekked up to New Haven for the day and visited an old haunt of his, Bar, to do a little recon on a recipe I’ve been wanting to recreate. We went for the pizza, but as it turns out, they also serve up a pretty mean salad — the one that gave rise to this version. The combination here is nothing new, so I won’t say too much more, but I thought it was a perfect fall segue salad, with the sweet spiced decadence of autumnal comfort foods, but the freshness of crunchy fruit and leafy greens for balance. It isn’t the kind of salad you order for dinner at work when you’re trying to be good, the kind where you’re thinking about protein and good fats and staying power. It’s just the fun kind, the kind on the side that’s kind of dessert hiding out in a camouflage of greens. But it’s cool, because we have like five years before it’s beach season again, right? 🙂
Pear & Gorgonzola salad with cinnamon-glazed walnuts.
Ingredients
- for the walnuts:
- 1/2 cup walnuts
- 1 tbsp butter
- 3–4 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- for the rest:
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1 Bosc pear
- 1/4 to 1/3 cup crumbled Gorgonzola or bleu cheese (for a milder alternative, use goat cheese crumbles)
- for the brown sugar vinaigrette:
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar (I used this apple-infused version by Lucini)
- 1 tsp Dijon or honey mustard
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt the butter and walnuts together in a skillet over medium-high heat. Toast, stirring, for a few minutes, then add the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook for another minute or so, stirring, until the sugar is melted and coats the walnuts evenly. Remove walnuts to a piece of parchment paper and spread immediately to separate into individual pieces.
- Divide the mixed greens between two plates. Thinly slice the pear and layer over the greens. Finally, divide the Gorgonzola between the two plates, and finish with the cooled walnuts.
- Whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients in a small bowl, then pour evenly over each salad. Serve immediately.
The Millers Tale
This would work well with roasted or dried quince slices too. Thanks for a lovely Autumnal salad idea.
tworedbowls
So true! Thank you so much for commenting! 🙂
Belinda Lo (Moonblush Baker)
I love reading non food blog writing too. Their is such an emotion with food that can only be described in these books. Gorgeous salad! Pear, walnuts ans blue cheese is fave of mine.
tworedbowls
It’s so true!! Especially catching glimpses into their fascinating lives and travels… Sign me up to be a food critic any day 😉 Thanks for your kind words, Belinda!
Ice at foolproofliving.com
This is a great autumn salad. The addition of cinnamon is a great idea.
I just finished Ruth Reichl’s “Delicious” and though that it was well-written. “One Souffle at a Time” looks pretty cool. I may read that next.
Thanks for the suggestion. 🙂
tworedbowls
Ooh! Thank you for yours, I’ll have to check that out next.
jenna @ justjfaye.com
This salad looks delicious! I love the combination of the apple balsamic with brown sugar in the dressing. I will have to try it out!
tworedbowls
Thank you so much!! I hope you enjoy it if you do 🙂
Ksenia @ At the Immigrant's Table
I absolutely adore the moody atmosphere in these images. It pairs so beautifully with the haunted look of the scraggly walnuts! Also, I think the kind of evenings you describe should be savoured and appreciated. It is wonderful to be able to have those late-night talks and imaginative flights of fancy, as they are what gives colour to the rest of the day (no matter how caffeine-addled it ends up being!)
tworedbowls
So beautifully put, Ksenia! I wholeheartedly agree 🙂 Thank you for such a lovely, thoughtful comment.
Tieghan
The snooze button…oh man I have been hitting that way too much lately. These cold morning have me wanting to stay in bed…like all morning! Ha!
Love this pretty salad and those walnuts? Yes!
tworedbowls
Yes!!! It’s so hard to get out of bed! At least it happens eventually… ha! Thanks so much, Tieghan!
myriam | rhubarb! rhubarb! rhubarb!
pear, gorgonzola and arugula pizza is one of my favourite flavours ever, so naturally it would be lovely in salad form.
I love reading this portrait of your days; and finding out from all the food blogs who’s a fall person and who’s not. (for the record, I’m not either.)
tworedbowls
Ooh, I’ve never had a pizza like that!! It sounds heavenly. And thank you for such a sweet comment 🙂 it’s so nice to know that it’s not totally boring to write about our humdrum days. But most importantly — high five for not being fall people!! Haha! Counting down til spring 😉
Sini | My Blue&White Kitchen
This looks so so good! Those walnuts look like ones I would try to steal from my table neighbors plate. I might, however, substitute the gorgonzola with another cheese though, as I suffer from some sort of blue cheese fobia (I have a story about its origin that you definitely don’t want to hear). And hey, I’m reading Fault in Our Stars right now (about time!). Why has it to be so damn sad, eh? Tears all over the place.
tworedbowls
Bahaha I totally feel you on allll the above! (Secret: I definitely made like three times the amount of walnuts above … and just ate the extra like candy.) I’m actually a much bigger fan of goat cheese than bleu cheese normally, too, and was so close to just using it like I usually do … but I thought I’d switch it up for once 🙂 Thanks for the kind words as ever, Sini! You’re the sweetest.
Maryna
Hello, Cynthia! Why do I always smile when reading your posts? It feels like we have been friends for ages! So cozy…)
I have been crazy about this combination of pears, cheese ans walnuts for a month so far! I can not stop eating such a salad)). It is the most ‘autumnal’ salad, true))
Annie @ ciaochowbambina
Such a beautiful salad…walnuts are my favorite! But I must also add, your photography is gorgeous.
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
Love these flavors for fall, the cinnamon-glazed walnuts sound divine!
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health
pear and Gorgonzola is a heavenly combination!
erika
You’re doing such crazy beautiful things with light here–I’m dying. Swooning over that swirl of dressing over the pears!!! I’m totally with you on those salads that are dessert dressed in a few greens–those nuggets of candied nuts are ALWAYS the best part. I’m a spring/summer person as well, but lately, I’ve also been feeling the call of a cozy cup of tea and bowl of soup…love love love this as always lady!!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
Oh my gawd! This has to be the most beautiful, moody salad. Ever!
Lindsey
omgosh, i totally feel you on the sloooow autumn morning routine! and your evenings sound just as cozy as you describe them – especially with the nubbly throw! loving the warm autumnal spices in this salad, and those walnuts look totally delightful (i’m sure they would even make an awesome little snack!). thank you for this one, cynthia! xoxo
Millie | Add A Little
This kind of looks like heaven cynthia – the cinnamon glazed walnuts are just asdfgjhjkfg omg amazing!!
vikalinkafood
Looks delicious, Cynthia. I had great intentions of making a pear and gorgonzola tart and purchased the ingredients but work’s been so busy I never got around to it. We just ended up eating pears and cheese. 🙂
molly yeh
i have been to BAR! i was super drunk, but i think i got pizza? it was also a long time ago. praise fall, this post is perrrrrfect. i’m sorry that i’ll be stealing you away from how i met your mother when i come to visit. but OH speaking of food writing, you MUST read all of ruth reichl’s books, they are the best.
alanafixfeastflair
I’m sold on this vinaigrette. And the salad, well you don’t need to sell me on dessert disguised with a bunch of greens. As for food writing, I’ve never read any non-blog versions other than cookbooks (those count right) but I’m super intrigued now and will have to Willan’s One Souffle at a Time. P.s. Your photos keep getting better and better and I really didn’t think that was possible because they were already perfect. xx
whiskandshout
I love your photography here! I’ve never had pear and gorgonzola but it sounds like a winning combination, especially with those yummy nuts 🙂
rovinglights
This looks so delicious! I love any combination of fruit and salty cheese. Salad is perfect because it lightened the whole thing perfectly. This definitely looks like one to try
Graham @ Glazed & Confused
This is exactly the type of salad I like. and I’m sooo with you on the whole “being good” thing.
the glazed nuts and fruit are always for the perfect balance of sweetness… or maybe just my sweet tooth getting to me.
brava!
Sarah @ SnixyKitchen
I am super extremely jealous of your already-sweeping-in fall weather that allows you to snuggle up with a blanket! Also – I’m dying to try the cinnamon-glazed walnuts on this salad – that sounds like just the perfect touch to top a fall salad.
Our Food Stories
So in love with this combination!! looks very delish! and love your pictures dear.
best wishes from berlin,
laura & nora
Erika
So beautiful as always.. I love the brown sugar vinaigrette…
Kathryn
You seriously have all the best flavours + textures going on in this salad. Definitely a reminder of how good this season can be.
Shikha la mode
Um, I may or may not have legit rewatched all of HIMYM and finished the series finale (again) on Monday. It’s such a good show!!
cococakeland
i’ve been reading consider the lobster – david foster wallace’s collection of essays, it is hee-larious. his essay on john mccain was so bizarrely entertaining and sad/funny. and of course the title piece makes me laugh-cry while both simultaneously craving and deploring lobster … i love food writing – i’ve been meaning to check out jeffrey steingarten’s book(s?) i’ve always enjoyed his column in Vogue. which one are you reading?
this salad looks/sounds perfectly textural… and those photographs, the dark hunkering-down beauty of it all, very fall morning. xo
ellie | fit for the soul
I love how your dishes have the best combinations. They’re never over the top complicated and they taste good. How do I know? I’ve tried salads similar to this in fancy restaurants and to this day I dream about them–the flavors just stay with you, you know? 😀
Laura (Blogging Over Thyme)
I totally agree! It is the worst to get up in the morning when it is cold out! I’ve had the hardest time in general waking up lately, haha.
Love this salad, and those cinnamon glazed walnuts! I just bought some walnuts at the store the other day, so I will have to make this immediately.
Valerie
This salad is downright gorgeous!! Of course, by default, I’m keen on anything that involves Gorgonzola cheese…*hmmmm*
I have a beloved electric blanket; when preheated, it’s like slipping into a hot bubble bath! Yes, getting out of that cocoon is beyond arduous and I often hit the snooze button up until the 4th hour of the Today show. 😀
Aunt Clara
What a gorgeous salad!
atasteofmadess
This salad looks amazing! I have yet to add some fruit to my salads (unless dried cranberries count) but I am eager to try!
Beth
The dessert kind of salad – definitely the kind I like best. It sounds amazing!
kristie @ birchandwild.com
This is a beautiful salad. I love the combination of flavors, and I must try these glazed walnuts on a number of dishes. I think they could compliment so much.
thefoodieteen
Gorgeous, gorgeous photos, Cynthia! Love the styling too, and that flavour combination is seriously amazing!
arikamichel
Your photography is so inspiring!
Janella
At BAR in New Haven was the only time I have ever said that I wanted salad over pizza. Thanks for this recipe!