Picnic Without Bees + Roasted Goat Cheese Pear Salad Recipe

The next time you are out on a picnic playdate, and you swat at those pesky bees buzzing around your watermelon..................don't.

As it turns out, without bees & insects pollinating many of the crops we grow, we'd lose literally, tons of our favorite fruits and vegetables. 

Over 85% of plant species that we use for food today would die off or suffer greatly if it wasn't for those pesky bees.

The photo above, clues you in to just how different our plates would look if the bee population continues to decline.

Currently U.S. bee colonies are dwindling at a rate of 30% per year!

Whole Foods Market is on a mission to "Give Bees A Chance" and I think we all should join in on this important cause. 

I'm going to do my part, by sharing with you a recipe for a delicious salad that wouldn't be possible to make without the help of our friends, the bees!

Roasted Goat Cheese Pear Salad

Ingredients:

• 2 pears, cored, and sliced 1/2 inch pieces lengthwise 
• Cooking Spray
• 1 - 4oz goat cheese Log
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup 365 Everyday Value Italian Style Bread Crumbs
• 1 TBSP olive oil
• 1 TBSP butter
• 1 bag of Earthbound Farm Organic Spring Mix
• Basic Vinaigrette (recipe courtesy of Whole Foods) 

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 425. Place cored pears in a roasting pan, and spray with a bit of cooking oil. Roast, turning occasionally to prevent burning and remove when pears are soft and golden in color – about 25 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Cut goat cheese log into ½ inch slices, dip in egg white, then bread crumbs. Put in refrigerator to cool for a few minutes. While cheese is cooling, heat 1 TBSP butter and 1 TBSP olive oil in a saute pan. Add breaded cheese slices to saute pan in batches until toasted and brown. Set aside.

Divide salad mix between 4 plates, and toss with Vinaigrette.  Place slices of pear on top of salad greens, and a few medallions of goat cheese on top of the pears.

Serves: 4

 ENJOY the BUZZ! 

For more information about the bumblebee situation in the US, visit: http://www.xerces.org/