Spinach Salad with Cranberries, Pecans, Bacon, and Blue Cheese

This had a great mix of wonderful flavors! It's different than the spinach salad I usually make, but it will definitely be in the salad rotation for times when I need to go beyond the "regular family dinner" salad.

1/2 pound hickory smoked bacon slices, roughly chopped
1/2 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
2 (6-ounce) containers baby spinach
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup dried cranberries

Dressing:
1/2 cup Danish blue cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Fry chopped bacon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until brown and crisp. Using slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel-lined 1/4-sheet tray to drain.

Toast pecans in the oven on a 1/4-sheet tray until lightly golden and fragrant, about 6 minutes.

In a medium bowl mash the blue cheese with a fork. Mix in the buttermilk, sour cream, sugar, salt and pepper, to taste.

Combine baby spinach, red onion, pecans, dried cranberries and bacon in large bowl. Toss with the dressing immediately before serving.


(source: www.foodnetwork.com --The Neelys)