Pear and Cranberry Chopped Salad

Pear and Cranberry Chopped Salad - from Chelsie Troxel in Nashua Ward 

So good for a winter pot luck (double or triple it) or holiday meal - Chelsie brought this at Christmas Eve and we all loved it.

1 English cucumber - halved lengthwise and cut into 1/2 inch dice
3 T olive oil
3 T sherry vinegar
1 red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, diced - about 1 C
1 ripe but firm pear, cut into 1/4 inch pieces - about 1 C
1/2 small red onion, minced
1/2 C dried cranberries or dried cherries
1 Romaine heart, cut into 1/2 inch pieces (about 3 C)
4 oz blue cheese, crumbled
1/2 C pistachios or almonds, toasted and chopped coarse
ground black pepper

1.  Combine cucumber and 1/2 tsp salt in a colander set over a bowl and drain for 15 min.
2.  Whisk the oil and vinegar together in large bowl.  Add cucumber, pepper, pear, onion, cranberries.  Toss and let stand at room temp to blend the flavors - 5 min.
3.  Add the romaine, blue cheese, and nuts, and toss to combine,  Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.