Fall salad with homemade spiced cinnamon vinaigrette dressing

Fall is upon us here in New England, but that doesn't mean we need to abandon salads! This recipe includes many heart-healthy ingredients down to the dressing itself. September is Cholesterol Awareness Month and it is a great time to chat about maintaining healthy levels for heart health. A 2006 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that a 1% reduction in your "bad" or LDL cholesterol can improve heart disease risk 2-3%. The Journal of Clinical Lipidology has published a study that found that corn oil, like Mazola, can help lower cholesterol more than extra virgin olive oil. The Mazola Corn Oil used in this recipe has cholesterol-blocking plant sterols, as well as a high smoke point and neutral flavor so it can be used for all types of booking methods, including the salad dressing recipe prepared below!

Fall Salad with Homemade Spiced Cinnamon Vinaigrette
Yield: 4 Servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
Salad:
4 Cups Spring Mix Greens
1 pear chopped
Arils of 1 whole pomegranate
1 cup toasted walnuts
2 oz crumbled goat cheese
Dressing:
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon apple brandy
1-1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon yellow mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup Mazola® Corn Oil

Instructions

1. Whisk together oil, vinegar, brandy, sugar, cinnamon, mustard, white pepper, and cayenne in a small bowl. 

2. Combine all salad ingredients into a single large bowl. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Divide into four even portions and serve immediately.