Spinach salad with candied bacon and spiced pecans PT30M https://img4.recipesrun.com/201907/2019/1205/50/c/683370/300x200x90.png The candied bacon and spiced pecans make this salad special enough to be a holiday side dish. I like it because of its versatility. In the fall I might add slices of crisp, tart apple and spice the pecans with cinnamon instead of cayenne. For Thanksgiving, try adding dried cranberries or diced, roasted butternut squash. If you don't like blue cheese, substitute crumbled fresh goat cheese. 4 servings Ingredients: 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp. cider vinegar 2 tbsp. maple syrup 4 oz. blue cheese crumbled 3/4 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. cayenne or ground cinnamon 1/4 cup confectioners sugar 1 cup whole, unsalted pecans 1 tbsp. maple syrup 1 tbsp. brown sugar 6 slices bacon, trimmed of excess fat and diced 3 cups spinach, washed and trimmed