Strawberry-Pear Salad with Creamy Mustard and Fennel Pollen Dressing

I’m ready for Spring.  Anyone with me?

The past week has been a foggy blur of fevers and coughing so hard I wet my pants too many times to count.  It snowed and was downright dreary.  I spent the days trying to sneak a nap in where I could.  Then my husband picked up some knock-off Nyquil for me.  I’ve been telling everyone who will listen–BEST SLEEP IN YEARS.

Our desktop computer literally blew up over the weekend.  Sparks did fly.  It is now being fixed by my husband’s uncle, the family computer genius.  Good thing I was sick and couldn’t care less about trying to get online.  You know I’m sick when blogging doesn’t hold much appeal.  Neither does getting dressed or eating, or doing much of anything.  Watching movies was even getting boring.

Yesterday my dear friend, Becky, trekked up the icy sidewalks with her two sweet daughters to bring me a copy of Hunger Games.  I was quickly sucked in.  I had heard little bits here and there about it, but true to form, I wasn’t interested because EVERYONE and their grandmother has read it.  I did the same thing with Harry Potter.  And you still won’t get me to read those vampire books.  I have to draw the line somewhere.

I read the whole book in several hours while I let my kids fend for themselves by making apple soup (cut up apples in water) and eat the leftover pancakes soaked through with fake maple syrup.  (The don’t appreciate the good stuff!)  My husband came home and tried to talk to me, but I was in the last 3 chapters and couldn’t string two words together, let alone listen to anything anyone was saying to me.

Sigh.  This is why I have to stick to reading books I’ve already read numerous times.  This is why we had to get rid of Netflix online streaming.  (I need another Downton Abbey fix soon too, by the way.)  I’m useless until I know how the story ends.

Well, until I get my hands on Catching Fire and Mockingjay, you’ll find me watching the trailer over and over and over again until March 23rd.  Cannot wait.  I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited for a movie to come out.  Squee!

Want to know what else I’m obsessed with?  This salad.  So good.  I might even have to put my book down long enough to enjoy it, or at least try not to dribble the delicious dressing all over the pages.

It’s one of those spur-of-the-moment salads when I look around and see what I have on hand or think about what I’m craving.  Right now, strawberries on greens.  In any form.  (Confession–I even made a smoothie out of mixed greens and strawberries.)

Spring…hurry!  Hurry faster!

Strawberry-Pear Salad with Creamy Mustard and Fennel Pollen Dressing
To serve 1

Ingredients:
3-4 cups mixed organic salad greens
1/2 firm, ripe pear, diced
1/4 lb. strawberries, sliced
1/4 cup pecan pieces (I broke them up with my fingers)

For Dressing:
2 Tbsp. full fat coconut milk
1 tsp. white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard (can use less)
1/2 tsp. agave nectar (or sweetener of your choice)
pinch fennel pollen (see here)
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Arrange salad greens on a large plate.  Top with sliced strawberries, diced pears, and pecan pieces.  .

For dressing:
Whisk all ingredients together.  Taste and adjust seasonings.  Drizzle over salad and eat.