Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

This is a delicious and easy salad which takes little time and is a great meatless main course. It uses beets, goat cheese, candied walnuts and baby greens. For a main dish salad, add chicken. Feel free to include more of your favorite vegetables too.

Ingredients:

•     4 medium beets – scrubbed, trimmed and cut in half
•     ⅓ cup chopped walnuts
•     3 tablespoons maple syrup
•     10 ounce lettuce salad greens
•     ½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate
•     ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
•     ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
•     2 ounces goat cheese

Directions:

1. Place beets into a saucepan, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then cook for 20 to 30 minutes, until tender. Drain and cool, then cut in to cubes.
2. While the beets are cooking, place the walnuts in a skillet over medium-low heat. Heat until warm and starting to toast, then stir in the maple syrup. Cook and stir until evenly coated, then remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice concentrate, balsamic vinegar and olive oil to make the dressing.
4. Place a large helping of greens onto each of four salad plates, divide candied walnuts equally and sprinkle over the greens. Place equal amounts of beets over the greens, and top with dabs of goat cheese. Drizzle each plate with some of the dressing.