Hollie's Grape Salad

You know I have a sister.  She's fabulous!  We're only 18 months apart, but we are definitely different people.  We don't look much alike.  She's dark with dark brown eyes and resembles my mom's side of the family, and I'm lighter with blue eyes and look just like my dad's side of the family.  My kids say our voices sound alike, but that's about it.   We do like a lot of the same things.  If I read a good book it's usually because Hollie did.  If I try a new recipe, it's because Hollie liked it.  I bought bright blue skinny jeans because Hollie pulled it off awesome.   I can pull it off too right?  One thing we do have a ton in common is cooking.  I'd say between the two of us, Hollie is the best cook.  She makes the best cookies (always has), the best orange rolls by far, and always has the fun new ideas.  A few weeks ago we spent 19 hours, to be exact, at her home in Idaho for a baptism.  It was a great day, and of course I was wow-ed by a new salad.  Really not anything way out there, but it was so tasty!  Hollie's Grape Salad was awesome!  Maybe it's the spicy sweet nuts, or the blue cheese, but it's a good one.  Since the warmer months are just around the corner this will be a great new salad for all the gatherings.

Thanks Hollie for the great new idea.  Enjoy friends!!

Hollie's Grape Salad

Purple Grapes

Green Grapes

Blue Cheese Crumbles

Spicy Sweet Pecans (recipe follows)

(Use as many as needed for the people you're serving.  Hollie served a ton, and used a 4 lb. container of Purple and Green Grapes from Costco.  She used about 1 c. Blue Cheese, and about 1 c. chopped nuts.  Adjust the measurements for your personal taste.)

Dressing:

3/4 c. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1/4 c. White Balsamic (or any other yummy vinegar)

1 T. Honey

1 T. Lemon Juice

1 t. Salt

1 t. Pepper

Throw this salad together right before serving.  In a big bowl place all your washed grapes.  Add Blue Cheese and Spicy Sweet Pecans.  Drizzle on dressing until it's coated.  You may not need all of the dressing.  Serve immediately.

Sugar Spice Pecans

1/3 c. sugar

1 c. whole or chopped pecans

In a dry fry pan place the sugar and nuts and put over a medium high heat.  Be diligent and stay right by these babies until they're done.  I've burned a few nuts in my day, and even the kitty won't eat them:(

Don't stir until you start to see the sugar melting.  Gently stir the nuts so they don't burn.  Keep stirring until all the sugar melts and turns golden brown.  This part goes fast.  It takes a while for the sugar to start to melt, but once it does watch it.  Poor the nut onto a WELL GREASED pan.  Immediately sprinkle with a shot of salt and chili pepper.  Let cool and then break up and add to the best salad.