Autumn Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

I don't really know what makes a salad an autumn salad. The apples maybe? There are several autumn chopped salad recipes floating around Pinterest. I got inspired by seeing them to come up with my own--you know I have to make a salad dressing versus buying one. My family has eaten the Ramen Salad to the point of overkill this summer and fall and I was needing a different flavor. This is definitely different and SO yummy. My kids ate it but they are still partial to the Ramen Salad. Always. I think this would make a wonderful addition to any Thanksgiving get-together. Or just make it for you and enjoy! And seeing how I couldn't come up with a better, succinct name I stuck with "autumn." Oh well. Its an anytime of year salad if you ask me!

Autumn Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

Mix the following in a large salad bowl in whatever proportions suit your tastes! Toss with the salad dressing just prior to serving and enjoy! 

Green leaf lettuce or spinach leaves
Chopped apples
Bacon, cut into bits
Toasted almonds
Dried cranberries
Diced cheddar cheese
Finely chopped green onion

Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
1/4 cup vinegar (I used half white and half white wine vinegar)
2 Tbs Dijon or whole grain mustard (I used the whole grain one Ikea sells)
2 Tbs honey
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 cup oil

Whisk together vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and pepper. Gradually add in oil while whisking. Refrigerate.

*This salad dressing makes enough to dress about 4-5 dinner side-dish sized portions of salad.