Chicken, Gorgonzola Pear Salad

Spring is in the air and summer is almost here and that means for most of us who have been hiding under heavy winter clothes can now start wearing short sleeves and bright colors welcoming the warm breezy months in Virginia. 

Summer is a great time to visit Portsmouth's Olde Town district.  On Tuesday nights during the warm summer months, costumed guides lead visitors through Olde Town at twilight, sharing local folklore and providing information about architecture of the historic buildings. 

Visitors to Portsmouth's Olde Towne district can enjoy the largest concentration of antique homes between Alexandria, Virginia and Charleston, SC.  Historic homes, such as the one shared by President Cleveland's parents, are nestled among churches and monuments in this well preserved district.  Explore Olde Towne on a trolley tour our take a self-guided walking tour with a brochure from the Portsmouth Visitor's Information Center.  Whether you take a trolley, walk or guided tour you will be ready for a light but filling dinner.  I suggest the Chicken Gorgonzola Pear Salad.  It has it all, meat, cheese, spinach and fruit.

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons honey Dijon mustard
Sat and pepper
3 cups cooked diced chicken breast
1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
2 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
14-16 ounces salad greens, I suggest that you use spinach too
2 pears halved, cored and sliced
Lemon juice

• Whisk olive oil, red wine vinegar, hone Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl to make dressing. *
• Mixed cooked chicken, toasted walnuts, and Gorgonzola cheese; pour dressing over chicken and toss to coat ingredients with dressing.
• Place greens on individual salad plates.
• Dip pears in lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.
• Arrange sliced pears in a fan shape along one side of the greens.
• Remove chicken from dressing with slotted spoon, arrange equally over the greens.
• Drizzle any remaining dressing over chicken, pears and greens.

*If you do not have honey Dijon mustard, substitute 1 tablespoon of mustard with 1 tablespoon of honey. (to make sure the honey slides off the spoon, coat the spoon with olive oil or a spray oil)
This will serve 4-6 people.  Preparation time 25 minutes

This is a tasty and hearty salad, enjoy.