High Fructose Corn Syrup Free Watercress & Apple Salad with Fresh Goat Cheese

Peppery watercress, crisp apple slices, creamy goat cheese, and toasty pumpkin seeds come together in a salad that feels genuinely special without requiring much effort at all. The homemade dressing is where this recipe really shines — just apple cider vinegar, honey, sea salt, and olive oil whisked into a clean, lightly sweet vinaigrette that you mixed yourself, so you know exactly what's in it. That matters more than it might seem, because so many bottled dressings and store-bought salad kits quietly sneak in high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener or preservative. Here, a small spoonful of real honey does all the heavy lifting, balancing the vinegar's brightness without any of the processed sweetener concerns. Toasting the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet for a few minutes adds a nutty crunch that makes every bite more interesting, and the optional fresh thyme ties the whole thing together with a subtle herby note. It's the kind of salad that works as a light lunch on its own or as an elegant starter when you're trying to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.

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