Pear and Gouda Salad with Maple Vinaigrette and Candied Pecans

eat your vegetables for dessert

things you’ll need: spinach, pears, aged gouda and/or pecorino, sherry vinegar (or apple cider, white wine, or champagne vinegar), olive oil (or walnut), maple syrup, shallot (or garlic or red onion), brown sugar, vanilla, spices (cinnamon, cardamom, maybe something spicy like cayenne), salt and pepper.

I had to make candied pecans in huge batches for ou…