It’s the middle of October, right smack dab in the middle. It was high noon and the weather was picture perfect. Not a cloud in the sky, no breeze and all the leaves are turning color.

So I decided to take Kona for our daily walk. As I was walking I realized that when we go for these walks, that I talk to myself. Not out loud anyway, but in my head. Thinking about what I am going to write. About recipes, thoughts, food, etc.

I asked myself this question.” Is it better to eat, then walk, or is it better to walk, then eat?” And then I starting thinking, wow, maybe I should just be happy that I’m walking. Isn’t that what’s more important? I do love taking Kona for a walk, because the truth be told, I don’t like walking alone. It’s boring.  I can take my iPod with me but, I don’t really feel like a sense of accomplishment as I do when I think I am taking her for a walk instead. It’s for her and not me.

It got me thinking about  this incredible salad that I ate at Panera Bread last week when Jennifer and I went to lunch .  I ordered the Harvest Turkey Salad.  It was very tasty.  I knew that I could make this at home and control the portions of the ingredients a lot better.

I am using an applepear.  What is an apple pear?

Excerpt from Wikipedia “The tree’s edible fruit is known by many names, including: Asian pear. The fruits are generally not baked in pies or made into jams because they have a high water content and a crisp, grainy texture, very different from the buttery European varieties. They are commonly served raw and peeled. The fruit tends to be quite large and fragrant, and when carefully wrapped (it has a tendency to bruise because of its juiciness), it can last for several weeks or more in a cold, dry place.

So here is my makeover of an already healthy salad.

Ingredients

Serves 2

8 PP per serving

• 6 ounces sliced cooked turkey breast (you can substitute chicken if you want)
• 1 ounce crumbled gorgonzola
• one package of spring salad mix
• 1 ounce chopped walnut pieces
• 1 apple pear, diced (you can substitute apples or pears too )
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries (you can substitute currants or cherries too)
• 1/8 cup Girard’s Light Champagne dressing

Directions

Mix all the ingredient in a large bowl.  Toss and serve.

Oops, I forgot to chop up the apple pear, but please use it in your recipe.  It will get you fuller and doesn’t add any more to the PP value of the dish

I enjoyed my walk with Kona and I even called my mom while I was walking.

Try the salad, but remember to add the apple pears.