Autumn Inspired Salad

This salad incorporates a perfect balance of autumn; crisp apples, toasted walnuts, maple syrup, oranges, and blue or Roquefort cheese. Inspired from Ina Garten's Cape Cod Chopped Salad. The dressing recipe is great on other salads as well and makes plenty for leftovers.

8 oz baby arugula
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced
1/2 cup toasted walnuts
1/2 cup dried cranberries
6 oz Maytag Blue Cheese or Rogue River Creamery Blue

For the dressing:
3 tbsp good apple cider vinegar
1 tsp grated orange zest
2 tbsp freshly squeezed orange juice
2 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
Dash kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2/3 cup good olive oil

In a large bowl, toss together the salad ingredients. In a separate blown whisk the first seven dressing ingredients (all ingredients except the olive oil). Slowly whisk in the oil.

Toss the salad with just enough dressing to moisten. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp salt and toss well. Serve immediately.

Pairs beautifully with crab cakes w/roasted red pepper aioli sauce