“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” Emily Brontë
For some time I have been wanting to make a fall panzanella salad. A recent restaurant-made one sounded so good on the menu but was really disappointing with hard crouton-like bread and hardly any flavor. So I experimented and settled on this final creation that was unbelievably delicious! I made it on a crisp sunny fall day and we enjoyed it as a meal. Bursting with the many flavors of fall that I love: brussel sprouts, squash, cranberries, sage, thyme, pomegranate and maple, the salad was as nourishing as it was gorgous. Roasting the vegetables enhances their flavor and gives them nice browned edges with tasty crispy bits and a texture that holds up in the dressing. The salty pancetta balances the sweetness of the cranberries and squash. Pomegranate arils adds crunch and color. I used a garlic-herb loaf of Italian bread for another layer of flavor. The salad lends itself well to experimentation with your own favorite fall veggies and fruits. The maple infused dressing is the final punctuation mark of autumnal flavors in this dynamic salad. Full of antioxidant goodness, this is my new favorite fall dish!
French Gardener Dishes 