Pear Apple Walnut Salad In A Balsamic Reduction

• 1 pear, cored and sliced thinly
• 1 apple, cored and sliced thinly
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced lengthwise with the seeds removed, then cut into slices
• 1/2 - 2/3 celery rib, cut into thin slices
• 1 cup toasted walnuts
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbles
• 1 - 1 1/2 cup good quality balsamic vinegar
• fresh ground black pepper

1. Put the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan and turn the heat on low. When making a balsamic reduction, you don't have to boil the vinegar - you just have to get it warm enough to evaporate the vinegar. Boiling may burn the reduction.
2. Stir the balsamic occasionally to check the consistency, and make sure your hood fan is on. The evaporation of the vinegar can be quite pungent.
3. Have patience - this reduction takes a bit of time. Maybe 45 minutes?.
4. Once the volume of the vinegar has been reduced to about 1/3 of its original volume, remove it from the heat and set it aside.
5. Slice your fruit, cucumber and celery and place in a bowl.
6. Add the walnuts, cranberries and blue cheese crumbles.
7. Toss.
8. Add ground pepper and drizzle with balsamic reduction (make sure it's cool!).
9. Add a bit more ground pepper, and more balsamic reduction if needed and toss again.
10. Enjoy as an appetizer or a side salad.

pear, apple, cucumber, celery, walnuts, cranberries, blue cheese, balsamic vinegar, fresh ground black pepper

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/pear-apple-walnut-salad-in-a-balsamic-reduction-345625 (may not work)