Apple Kale Salad with Blue Cheese Crumbles

Ingredients:

Balsamic Vinaigrette

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard (any mustard will do, Dijon is best)
• 1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey (optional, skip for lower sugar)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• freshly cracked pepper, optional to finish salad

Salad

• 1 kale bunch, leaves torn apart
• 1 apple
• Point Reyes Farmstead blue cheese, crumbled
• nuts of choice, optional

Instructions:

• Make the balsamic vinaigrette first, so the flavors have time to blend. Add dressing ingredients to a jar, close tightly and gently shake until well combined. Set aside.
• Add torn kale leaves to a large bowl. Add about 2 Tbsp of the balsamic vinaigrette and massage the dressing into the kale leaves for about 2 minutes. The kale will wilt to about half the volume.
• Slice apple into thin pieces and arrange on top of the massaged kale. Top with crumbled blue cheese, and if desired, nuts.
• If desired, crackle pepper over salad. Enjoy immediately!