Mixed green, grape & goat cheese salad with champagne vinaigrette

The variety of flavors and textures in this salad is one reason it’s so satisfying. Crisp sweet grapes, crunchy cucumbers, leafy greens, slivered almonds, and creamy goat cheese all tossed together with a shallot and tarragon Champagne vinaigrette. Shallots are sweeter and milder than regular onions, providing a lovely crispness and balance to the more assertively flavored tarragon. Fresh tarragon is best here since dried tarragon has a much more subdued flavor. Toast the almonds in a dry skillet over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until they smell toasty. Serve this salad as a side to roasted or grilled pork tenderloin or chicken.