This and that: Walnuts

I always take vacation between my husband's and my birthday. Our birthdays are five days apart and many years. And yes if you have seen pictures of us, I robbed the cradle, am a cougar as he is many years younger then me.

Anyways this year was no different, I took the time off. As hubby is living and working downstate for the summer I had to travel there this year. I did miss his birthday as I got off that morning but we were able to celebrate my birthday together and that is what matters RIGHT?

For the weekend we went to my brother's in Indianapolis. As my brother's birthday is also in June, we headed over to Buca di Beppo to celebrate all our birthdays. This was the first time I had been to this restaurant and I loved it. We had Fettuccine Alfredo, Prosciutto Stuffed Chicken, Quattro al Forno and Apple Gorgonzala Salad. Everything was superb and we ate to our fill and had leftover in all except the Apple Gorgonzala Salad. This salad was so good that we lapped it all up.

I wanted to try to make this salad recipe. The ingredients for the salad were easy ~ lettuce, dried cranberries, walnuts, gorgonzala and granny smith apples. The hard part was the dressing. On their menu they had our signature Italian Vinaigrette. So I made my own Signature Italian Vinaigrette . The salad still tasted good, although not quite the same but close.

Apple Gorgonzala Salad

A copy-cat recipe from Buca di Beppo

Ingredient:

Varied types of lettuce (I used Romaine as that is all I had)

Granny Smith Apple- cut in slices

dried cranberries

gorgonzala ( you could also use feta)

walnuts (I used glazed walnuts in the original there is spiced walnuts)

Italian Vinaigrette

Home-made Italian Vinaigrette

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1/3 cup olive oil

3/4 tsp oregano

1 tsp salt

pinch black salt (I used black smoked black pepper butcher grind from My Spice Sage)

1 clove garlic

1/2 tsp dried mustard

3/4 tsp fresh thyme

1/2 tsp hot pepper

Mix all ingredients together in blender until smooth.

To make salad:

On dish, place washed lettuce cut in pieces. Wash and slice apples and layer on top of lettuce. Add cranberries, walnuts and gorgonzala. Drizzle with Italian Vinaigrette and enjoy.

Pair this salad up with some bread and it makes a delicious lunch. You could also add some chicken and it would be a wonderful simple dinner.

Waiting patiently for our meal to come

and so that you know I was really there, here is a picture with me in it.

I loved all the pictures that they had on the walls. If you were tired of talking to your companions or had nothing more to talk about, you didn't just have to stare into space, you could check out all the fabulous decor.