Apple Cheddar Salad with Sweet Cream Viniagrette

This is the best salad EVER! I almost always volunteer to bring salad to dinner parties and potlucks, just so I can bring this one. This is definitely a fan favorite! My favorite white cheddar is made by Tillamook cheese, and comes in a brick with black wrapping. It's the most creamy and rich white cheddar. Make sure you get the aged WHITE cheddar though, for some reason it tastes better than the orange. This salad is good with almost everything, but particularly with grilled meat, which is fortunate since it's still summer, and bbq's are plentiful these days.

Ingredients:

1 cup Pecan Halves 1 Tablespoon Butter 1 Tablespoon Sugar 1 pinch salt 1/4 cup White Vinegar 1/4 cup Olive Oil 2 Tablespoons Chives, Fresh, chopped 1 Tablespoon Sugar 1 teaspoon Salt 1/8 teaspoon Crushed red pepper flakes 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 whole Apple, Braeburn or sweet red 10 ounces lettuce, baby greens mix 3 ounces cheddar cheese, preferably white, and shaved Directions:

1. In a saute pan, combine the pecans, sugar and butter. Heat until the sugar and butter are melted and coating the pecans.

2. Pour the pecans onto a cookie sheet, spreading out in one layer, and sprinkle with the pinch of salt. Set aside to cool.

3. In a small bowl or blender, blend together the vinegar, oil, chives, sugar, salt and red pepper flakes.

4. Add the heavy cream and stir in. Be careful not to over mix, as you could end up whipping the cream.

5. Core and slice the apples into thin wedges. Toss them into the salad mix along with the pecans and shaved cheddar cheese.

6. Dress and serve.