Brussels Sprouts and Apple Salad

Directions

1. For the vinaigrette, place the vinegar, apple cider, olive oil, honey, mustard and a pinch of salt and pepper into a jar. Close lid tightly and shake to emulsify. Set aside.
2. Toast the pecans (or hazelnuts) in a pre-heated oven to 375°. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown, about 7-10 minutes.
3. Slice the onion very thin with a mandoline and soak in a bowl of cold water. The soaking makes the raw onions milder, although it's not a necessary step.
4. Trim Brussels sprouts. Snap off the dry and/or spotted outer leaves and cut off the hard stem. Slice Brussels sprouts using a food processor fitted with the slicing disk or a mandoline. Fluff and separate the slices with your fingers. Set aside.
5. Core the apples and dice them. Keep them in a bowl of water and lemon juice if not mixing the salad right away, so they don't tun brown. When ready, toss them with Brussels sprouts, onions and dried cranberries (reserve some as garnish).
6. Toss salad with half the vinaigrette. Mix well. Taste for salt and pepper, add more vinaigrette if desired. Top with left over cranberries, toasted pecans and shaved ricotta salata.
7. *ALTERNATE DRESSING: 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup hazelnut oil, 1/4 cup sherry vinegar, 3 Tbsp light maple syrup, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp salt. Shake all ingredients in a jar.