Seattle'S Pike Place Market Salad - cooking recipe

Ingredients

Walnuts
1 tablespoon sugar
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped walnuts
cooking spray
Dressing
1/2 cup apple cider
3 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Salad
8 cups herb mixed salad greens (see note in Intro)
2 cups blackberries, and (I used boysenberries) or pitted sweet cherries (I used boysenberries)
1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled

Preparation

To prepare nuts, place sugar in a small skillet over medium heat; cook 90 seconds or until sugar dissolves, stirring as needed so sugar dissolves evenly and doesn't burn. Reduce heat; stir in walnuts. Cook over low heat 30 seconds or until golden. Spread mixture onto foil coated with cooking spray. Cool completely; break into small pieces. (This step can be done up to a day in advance and stored in an air-tight container.)
To prepare dressing, place cider in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced to 2 tablespoons (about 5 minutes). Combine water and cornstarch in a small bowl; add to pan. Bring cider mixture to a boil, stirring constantly; cook 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Stir in shallots, vinegar, salt, and pepper; let cool. (This step can be done up to a day in advance and stored in refrigerator.).
To prepare salad, place salad mix in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing; toss gently to coat. Divide evenly among 4 plates; top with berries, cheese, and sugared walnuts. Serve immediately.