First make the dressing. Combine ingredients in a mason jar and shake well or add ingredients to a bowl and whisk well until emulsified. Love garlic? For extra flavor you can add a small clove of fresh garlic (finely minced) to the dressing. It's delicious!
Next make the salad. Apples can be thinly sliced (for fancier presentation) or sliced then chopped into bite-sized pieces. Add spinach to a large bowl then add half the dressing. Mix well to coat, then add apples, feta, dried cranberries, and candied pecans.
Toss to combine and feel free to add extra of any ingredient, to taste. You can also season with extra salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with remaining dressing and enjoy immediately while it's fresh and delicious! Enjoy!
Notes
OPTIONAL EXTRAS: roasted sunflower seeds or pepitas, microgreens or sprouts, shredded/diced chicken or turkey (for my t-rex friends), crispy roasted chickpeas, fluffy cooked quinoa, thinly sliced red onion, fresh blueberries or pomegranate.DIY CANDIED PECANS:
1 cup chopped pecans (the smaller the better)
1 TBSP unsalted butter
2 TBSP brown sugar
⅛ tsp salt
Heat a small skillet or saucepan to medium heat and butter to melt. Next add pecans, brown sugar, and the teeniest bit of salt. Sauté for 5-6 minutes and pour over parchment paper.Allow to cool for several minutes until the coating hardens and your pecans have officially been candied! Finely chop and add as much or as little as you'd like to your salad.Nutrition Facts below are estimated for salad and dressing using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed and enjoy!