Holiday Salad for Pear Month

December may be a month dominated by the holidays, but did you know that it's also Pear Month? This lovely winter salad is festive enough for any holiday table and it offers the spotlight to the fruit of the month as well.Pear SaladServes: 4 | Serving Size: 1 and 1/4 cups4 cups mixed baby lettuce, washed and chopped1/4 cup quartered dried figs1/4 cup dried raisins and cranberries1 pear, cored and slicedBalsamic vinegar to tasteDrizzle of olive oilBlack pepper to taste1 tablespoon toasted almond slicesMix the lettuce with the figs, dried fruit, pear, vinegar, oil, and pepper. Place on plates and top with toasted almonds.Nutrition Information:This recipe serves 4. Each 1 and 1/4 cup serving contains 108 calories, 3 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 11 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 15 g sugars, and 2 g protein.Each serving also has 42% DV vitamin A, 5% DV vitamin C, 4% DV calcium, and 5% DV iron.Chef's Tips:This is a great salad for winter, when pears are in season. Serve it at your next holiday gathering!Dried fruits and nuts add flavor, texture, and color to a salad. They are often high in nutrients, but they are also high in calories. Exercise portion control whenever you make them a part of your mealsPear Facts:Pears ripen from the inside out, instead of from the outside in.When you’re at the grocery store or farmers’ market, choose firm, heavy pears and let them ripen at home for a day or two.There are more than 3,000 varieties of pears.Pears and roses are related.Want to spread the word? Here's a free pear handout with the recipe!This recipe comes from a December edition of the Communicating Food for Health newsletter. Don't miss any more great recipes or fun facts -- sign up for your own monthly update today.