A Pretty Pear Salad

I don't love fruit in general, especially pears. They always seem so soft and mushy to me.

HOWEVER, I love the shape of a pear. I am very attracted to any antique image of a pear. I have a beautiful antique still life painting that depicts pears.



and a Georgian fruitwood tea caddy in the shape of a pear.



There is something so pretty and sensual about a pear.

Am I weird? Does anyone agree with me here?

We received a lovely box of Royal Riviera Comice pears, a variety I was not familiar with until now. Very different looking than a Bosc or Anjou pear, almost apple like in color with a red tinge.



I read that these are "royal" pears and should be eaten with a spoon!

I made a delicious simple salad with the pears. I added walnuts and a beautiful aged Parmigiano Reggiano to go with.

My affair with pears began a long time ago, just not eating them. But these were really tasty, and they "paired" beautifully with the cheese.

I ate this salad for lunch 3 days in a row!



Salad w/ Comice Pears, Walnuts & Cheese:

2 cups of mixed greens, including arugula and frisee
1/4 cup of toasted walnuts
a few slices of aged Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano cheese
2 Comice pears, peeled and thinly sliced

Dressing:
1 tsp of French grainy mustard
1 tbsp of honey
2 tbsp of champagne vinegar or white balsamic vinegar
6 tbsp of walnut oil



Whisk dressing and lightly toss with the salad ingredients.



Enjoy.