Canadian Maple Balsamic Salad

Salad Ingredients:

• 5 cups spring mix salad greens
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• ½ avocado, diced
• ¼ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
• ¾ cup Western Family Dried cranberries
• 1 pack, Western Family bacon
• ½ cup Saputo Mini bocconcini (pearls)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette:

• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup Western Family balsamic vinegar
• ¼ cup western family maple syrup
• 2 tsp Western Family dijon mustard
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper

Directions:

1. In a small jar, combine your vinaigrette ingredients. Shake well to combine and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
3. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Line your tray with bacon strips and bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes or until desired crispiness.
4. Let your bacon cool, when cool enough to handle, dice or cut into small pieces and set aside.
5. In a large bowl, combine the spring mix, cherry tomatoes, and red onion.
6. Sprinkle with the dried cranberries, walnuts and bacon bits.
7. Gently add the avocado and bocconcini pearls on top of the salad.
8. Season with salt and pepper as desired.
9. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine all the ingredients evenly.
10. Serve as a refreshing starter or a light meal.

Enjoy!