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Guess what, GUESS WHAT!!
I made salad! I know, it’s kind of been a while, but sometimes salad bores me. I get the feeling you know what I’m talking about. I mean, lettuce on a plate with ranch? NOOO. Like that’s not cool.
Don’t get me wrong, I love salad. I eat salad daily. But I HATE boring salads. Just don’t give me iceberg lettuce and call it a day. If I am going to eat a salad, it’s going to be an exciting one, full of flavors and full of cheese!!
You know, I’ve been thinking about it lately. I think I maybe talk about cheese a lot more than the average Jane. I’m totally OK with this, but I was just thinking, do you think I am cheese obsessed? I mean, I don’t even TRY to add cheese, it just happens. I can’t fully control the way my mind works. Especially when my mind is thinking cheese. Please tell me you understand. If you don’t… I’m not sure we can be friends.
Ok, we can be friends, because I’m sure I will still love you…but I might think you are totally weird. Just sayin.
Speaking of cheese? Let me tell you about the cheese I used in this pretty bacon wrapped fig and honeycrisp apple salad…well actually I used two. The first one is a gorgonzola. I think I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I am a huge fan of the blue moldy cheeses. They are some of my favorites. I LOVE blue cheese paired with sweet things like apples. It’s kind of the perfect combo if you ask me. Plus, blue cheese will forever remind my of my dad. He’s the first one to ever feed me blue cheese when I was little, and I have loved it ever since. My dad? He knows good cheese! Then I’ve got my mom, who knows good chocolate and bread, paired with my dad who know good cheese… and good veggies.
Clearly you see why my parents have been together for all these years…their food groups complete each other. Totally cheesy, but thinking about it now, it’s so true. If mom didn’t have dad she’d live on rice, bread, pasta, butter and hot chocolate. And if my dad didn’t have my mom? Well… he wouldn’t be the chocolate fan he is today.
That’s love guys.
Anywhoo, the second cheese is a, new to me cheese, that I am equally in LOVE with. Like totally head over heals in love. If this cheese had a cute brother in human form I’d marry him.
And ok… this post is getting weird. UGH. It’s Monday, it just has that effect on me.
But the cheese! I used a drunken goat cheese (I got mine at Whole Foods) and I am pumped about it. It’s the best cheese, SO good. If I can learn how to make this cheese with my fresh goat milk I totally will, but I am thinking it’s a bit harder than traditional goat cheese since this drunken goat cheese came in a wedge. Seriously though, if you can find this cheese please, please get it. You will love it, I just know it!
Ok, cheese talk over, on to the rest of the salad.
Bacon wrapped figs. If you’ve never done this, now is the time. It will change the way you think about figs, which I am guessing might be “eww”! If that is you, don’t think that way! Give figs a chance. I now love figs, but I too used to be that “eww” person. Now I am obsessed with them. I love their texture, their flavor and their gorgeous colors.
Plus, they pair amazingly with bacon, and anything that pairs well with bacon is a total winner, right? Yes. <–Truth.
So you have your cheeses, you have your bacon wrapped figs, what’s next? Some salted caramel pecans and perfectly crisp honeycrisp apples. Perfect combo right? Caramely pecans and honeycrisp apples?!??!
YUM!! Honestly the best!!
And you guys? How excited are you all about the fall apples showing up in stores? I am thrilled! I do however REALLY want to go apple picking this year. Back in Ohio and New York (where we had a cabin) there are so many incredible apple orchids. My family would go every year, but since we moved to Colorado, we have yet to go…it’s been eight years so I think it’s time we find a good orchard. Hmm, suggestions?? The problem is I think the closest one is at least 2 1/2 hours away… Road Trip!
And yeah, then you just add your greens + a simple cider vinaigrette and your done. Super simple, yet flavor packed! But for real – those apples and the drunken goat cheese?
Still dying over them. Gimme more!
Bacon Wrapped Fig and Honeycrisp Apple Salad with Salted Caramel Pecans.
Servings: 6 Servings
Calories Per Serving: 385 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Figs
- 12 fresh figs halved, black mission or tiger strip
- 6 slices thin cut bacon sliced in half length strips
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Pecans + Dressing
- 1 cup raw pecans
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- salt + pepper to taste
- crushed red pepper flakes to taste
Salad
- 6 cups mixed greens I like using a spring mix + arugula
- 2 honeycrisp apples sliced
- 4 ounces gorgonzola cheese crumbled
- 4 ounces drunken goat cheese or regular goat cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Take each fig half and wrap a slice of bacon all the way around it. Place on the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining figs. Brush each fig with maple syrup and then place in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the bacon is crisp and caramelized.
- Meanwhile, make the pecans. Add the pecans to a medium skillet set over medium high heat. Add the maple syrup, butter and salt. Cook until the pecans are caramelized, about 8 minutes. Remove the pecans from the skillet and place on a parchment lined plate in a single layer. Allow to cool.
- To make the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper and crushed pepper.
- To assemble the salad, add the greens to large salad bowl. Add the bacon wrapped figs, apples and pecans. Sprinkle on both cheeses and then drizzle with dressing. Enjoy!
Hey, an apple a day keeps the doctor away! Shh…he doesn’t need to know about the cheese…or the bacon. Our little secret.
Figs and honeycrisp apples sound perfect in a salad! Great idea!
Looks delicious! Do you think dried figs would work when fresh figs aren’t available?
HI! Yes, I think dried figs would be fine. I would soak them in water for and hour to plump them back up though. Hope you love this!
Thanks for the quick reply. I wouldn’t have thought to soak them. Can’t wait to make this salad. 🙂
This looks SO GOOD!!!
This salad is anything but boring! The bacon wrapped figs and salted caramel pecans … absolutely delicious and gorgeous!! 😀
Yah!!!! Finally, finally something fresh and tasty and not loaded with calories. Just love this salad — it’s all my favorite ingredients together !! And I have everything in my fridge, even the same gorgeous apples. Yah, salad tonight for dinner!!
I do not like to wrap things in bacon because it takes too long to crisp, and veggies/fruits become mushy.. Have you tried prosciutto wrapped figs?! I stuff them with goat cheese, then wrap, then bake…it’s heaven!!
Wow! The salad look simply amazing. I’m going to try it this coming weekend.
oh goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a salad as beautiful as this.
It looks so delicious, I would be so chuffed to have created something like this. I bet you’re a little bit smug about it – I would be!
Lovely photos too, I adore figs.
Im a big fan. Love your barn too. As an aspiring food blogger I was wondering, How did you find your groove with food food photography? I love that you have your own style and hold true to it.
<3 Dani
Gorgeous fall salad, Tieghan! I’m loving those caramel pecans with the honey crisp apples and figs – so good!
You can never ever have too many recipes with cheese. It’s just not possible. And I’m with you the moldier and stinkier, the better. I do agree that salads can be boring, but one look at this and you can see that it’s anything but boring!
How gorgeous! I love that you brushed the figs with maple AND wrapped them in bacon. That’s totally genius. Sounds like the best salad ever!
xx Sydney
dang, ‘salted caramel’ anything get me. plus i’m so into figs right now.
You have an amazing flavor combo going on here, the bacon figs, the caramel pecans on that bed of arugula, its just pure fall salad perfection!
This looks… Well amazing! I am REALLY glad to hear I am not the only one who dreams about cheese!!! Can’t wait to try this out! 🙂
what a great combination of flavors! wish we could try it now <3