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Grilled goat’s cheese and pear salad with cranberries & pine nuts

by Jeanne Horak on January 9, 2012 18 Comments in Recipes - gluten-free, Recipes - vegetarian, Salads

Grilled goats cheese and pear salad © J Horak-Druiff 2012

 

So, hands up – who likes this time of year?

  • It’s grey outside…
  • the sun sets by 4pm (well, it does in London!)…
  • you’re broke after the Christmas spending extravaganza…
  • your diet is staring you in the face demanding some action…
  • and your New Year’s resolutions may already be just a vague memory.

Hmmm, nope, I am guessing that there won’t be a sea of hands indicating January as a favourite time of year! And aaah yes, new year’s resolutions – those hopeful undertakings entered into on 31 December after a few glasses of Champagne.  Does anybody still make them, much less stick to them?  A bit of reading on the interwebs turned up some interesting stats on the topic.

According to an article by Stephen Shapiro (which uses statistics generated from a survey by the Opinion Corporation):

  • 45% of Americans usually set New Year’s Resolutions; 17% infrequently set resolutions; 38% absolutely never set resolutions.
  • Only 8% of people are always successful in achieving their resolutions; 19% achieve their resolutions every other year;  49% have infrequent success;  24% (one in four people) NEVER succeed and have failed on every resolution every year.
  • Of those who do set resolutions (these add to more than 100% because some people set multiple resolutions) 34% set resolutions related to money; 38% set resolutions related to weight; 47% set resolutions related to self-improvement or education; 31% set resolutions related to relationships.
  • It appears that the younger you are, the more likely you are to achieve your resolutions – 39% of those in their twenties achieve their resolutions every year or every other year but less than 15% of those over 50 achieve their resolutions every year or every other year
  • The less happy you are, the more likely you are to set New Year’s Resolutions.
  • Most intriguingly, there appears to be no correlation between happiness and resolution setting/success.  People who achieve their resolutions did not describe themselves as happier than those who do not set resolutions or who are unsuccessful in achieving them.

So do not despair if you set no resolutions, or have already broken them 😉

 

FestiveSaladPear

According to the Daily Mail newspaper, the most popular new year’s resolutions for Britons this year were to:

  • Lose weight
  • Get fit
  • Eat more healthily
  • Save money/spend less
  • Get a new job
  • Spend more time with people who matter
  • Try new experiences
  • Get out of a rut
  • Visit a country you’ve never been to
  • Read more

Did YOU make any resolutions this year, and if so, what were they?

If you were one of those who resolved to eat more healthily, then you are probably morosely on the lookout for salad recipes right now and resigning yourself to eating like a rabbit for the next few months.  Boring, boring, boring – right?  Wrong.  Allow me to introduce you to the grilled goats cheese and pear salad, dotted with tangy cranberries and crunchy pine nuts (adapted from this recipe). It’s packed with good things (watercress, pears, cranberries) and is very light on the more fattening (but still not too bad for you!) stuff like goat’s cheese and pine nuts. It can be whipped up even by those with minimal kitchen skills and makes a fantastic, pretty dinner party starter.  But best of all is the taste: the creamy saltiness of the warm goat’s cheese, the freshness of the watercress, the sweet tang of the berries and the crunch of the pine nuts, all tied together with a sweet-and-sour dressing.  Your guests, your tastebuds – and your waistline – will all thank you.

Happy new year!

 

FestiveSaladFinal

GRILLED GOAT’S CHEESE AND PEAR SALAD WITH CRANBERRIES & PINE NUTS (serves 4)

Ingredients

200g goat’s cheese (preferably 2x100g rounds, with rind)
2 ripe pears
1/4 cup of pine nuts
1/4 cup dried cranberries
150g watercress leaves
a little sunflower oil for brushing
crusty fresh bread to serve

FOR THE DRESSING
2 Tbsp cranberry sauce or melted cranberry jelly (I used plum chutney instead)
2 Tbsp fruity olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
salt and black pepper

Method

Toast the pine-nuts in a dry non-stick pan over medium heat.  Keep a close eye on the, as they burn easily and stir or toss frequently.  When nicely browned, set aside.

Pre-heat the grill to high and line a baking sheet with foil or a silicone baking mat. Halve the chees rounds to make four discs, and place them on the baking sheet, cut side up. Halve and core the pear, cut each half into slices and arrange on the baking sheet. Lightly brush the pears with oil, then grill for a few minutes until the cheese is turning golden and bubbling, and the pears are softening.

Whisk the cranberry sauce, oil and lemon juice together and season to taste. Divide the watercress leaves between four plates. Place the cheese on the leaves and top with a few slices of grilled pear.  Scatter over the dried cranberries and pine nuts, spoon over the dressing and serve immediately with crusty bread and a full bodied white wine like Viognier.

 

P2P_badge-SomersetDid you miss our our super-successful  Tuscany Plate to Page workshop last October? Well, registrations are open for Plate to Page Somerset due to be held in the UK in Spring 2012!  Have a look at the programme, details about  accommodation, and if it looks like something you’d like to attend,register here – but hurry: places are limited to 12. It would be great to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

More deliciousness for you!

  • Halloumi, roasted grape & pecan saladHalloumi, roasted grape & pecan salad
  • Baked pattypan squash steaks with cheese and herbsBaked pattypan squash steaks with cheese and herbs
  • Roasted beetroot, rocket and feta salad with mustard lemon dressingRoasted beetroot, rocket and feta salad with mustard lemon dressing
  • Roasted root vegetable soupRoasted root vegetable soup

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  1. Sanjeeta kk says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:19 am

    If I get to munch upon a salad like this..am happy to be a Bunny 🙂
    Happy 2012 to you!

    Reply
  2. Jenn says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:21 am

    Aww this reminds me of our salads at P2P in Weimar! It sounds lovely with the pears and cranberries. As for me, no resolutions, though I do have some goals set… I think goals are more manageable and a little less broad than resolutions tend to be…

    Reply
  3. Móna Wise says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:36 am

    I am not a resolution maker, but always set a few targets for the year and nine times out of ten I reach them.
    I find that setting my expectations really low helps… Looks like a winner on the salad for sure.
    Happy New Year Jeanne xx

    Reply
  4. Gill says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:29 pm

    Oh my soul that looks so delicious! Going to have to go out and get me some goats cheese!

    Reply
  5. bellini says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    Yay, with the new computer I can actually comment:D My word for 2012 is “Participate” so this could mean many things in the way of resolutions. As for this salad I could “participate” as well.

    Reply
  6. Kay@Chopstix2steaknives says

    January 10, 2012 at 12:49 am

    yumm…I love pears and goats cheese…..and I need to be on a salad for the next few weeks!

    Reply
  7. Firefly says

    January 10, 2012 at 6:33 am

    Hahahaha, that list kinda looks like mine. But I have to say that this year I said that I have good intentions to do those with my New Year’s resolution being that I’m going to take my destiny in my hands and not sit back and wait for things to come my way. Hope I don’t break that one.

    Reply
  8. Rosa says

    January 10, 2012 at 10:19 am

    A gorgeous salad! So flavorful and refined.
    I love the pear shot!
    Cheers,
    Rosa

    Reply
  9. joey says

    January 10, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    I usually make general directions of where I want to go in the coming year most than strict resolutions 🙂 I aim to post more Filipino recipes this year!
    This is one gorgeous salad! Happy New Year to you!

    Reply
  10. Cheoy Lee says

    January 10, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    It wasn’t so much that I resolved to eat more healthily, it was that I resolved to eat in a more varied and interesting way – to cook for myself more rather than just buying ready meals, and to use new ingredients that I don’t usually use. Your blog keeps giving plenty of ideas so that should help!

    Reply
  11. Lynn says

    January 10, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    Scrumptious pictures. Perfect item to make with the Redwood Hill California Crottin and Red Bartlett pears I picked up yesterday. And just took two baguettes out of the oven. A coincidence?!

    Reply
  12. Meeta says

    January 10, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    No resolutions – just goals I set and work my way towards them at my own pace. Loving the flavors of this salad and what I want to know – did you make any resolutions?

    Reply
  13. Andrew says

    January 11, 2012 at 7:30 am

    looks delicious – pushing me towards eating more healthly the year (he says with the best intentions)

    Reply
  14. Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen says

    January 12, 2012 at 3:49 am

    This is my kind of salad. I love goat’s cheese but grill it like this and I’m in heaven!

    Reply
  15. Simone says

    January 15, 2012 at 7:04 pm

    Yes yes, I’m one of those with the resolutions… Sticking to it too!! And I seriously love salads so certainly no punishment for me in that area. I live goatcheese salad as it is so versatile and yummy and delicious and good for you too!

    Reply
  16. Jamie says

    January 16, 2012 at 11:37 am

    Um, no, January just happens to be, ahem, my birthday month so I don’t mind it at all. And gorgeous salad. I’ve actually had it in mind to make a gooey goat cheese over salad. But JP would love the pears on top!

    Reply
  17. Kevin (Closet Cooking) says

    January 29, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    Grilled cheese and roasted pears…mmm….

    Reply
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Jeanne Horak is a freelance food and travel writer; recipe developer and photographer. South African by birth and Londoner by choice, Jeanne has been writing about food and travel on Cooksister since 2004. She is a popular speaker on food photography and writing has also contributed articles, recipes and photos to a number of online and print publications. Jeanne has also worked with a number of destination marketers to promote their city or region. Please get in touch to work with her Read More…

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