Arugula and Apple Salad with Creamy Mustard Dressing

Oh my. Another stellar success. The Arugula and Apple Salad with Creamy Mustard Dressing (p50) is super simple to put together and would be great for a quickie weeknight meal or side, but it would also be just as at home on your fanciest dinner party table. Its flavors and textures are perfectly balanced and impressive. It's the type of salad you would get in a nice restaurant, only it comes from your kitchen for a fraction of the cost.

If you're skeptical of apples and onions together, let that go. They play off of each other in the most delightful way, and the dressing--oh the dressing--brings everything together so stupendously you (and your guests) will be in awe of what you created.

For my trial run, the dressing was made as written (Have I mentioned the dressing? Oh the dressing!). My modifications were slight--romaine instead of leaf lettuce, and a baby arugula/spinach mix instead of straight adult arugula. It was still enough to get that lovely peppery bite from the arugula, which was only enhanced by the creamy mustard dressing. Have I mentioned how good the dressing is?

Both Mr. V and Grandma V were enamored. And me? Well, I was a tad disappointed I had to share. The only thing I would do differently next time--and oh yes, there will be many more to come--is to make more of everything.

--The Divine Miss V