fall apple chicken salad with maple mustard vinaigrette

i ate this salad six times in two weeks. six. it is that good. and it wasn't just me that loved it, jason said it's one of the best salads he's ever had. in my opinion, the goat cheese makes it, but if you aren't a fan - i'm talking to you, mom - then skip it. we had ours with fresh honey crisp apples we picked ourselves, but any firm, sweet apple will do. 

fall apple chicken salad with maple mustard vinaigrette
salad inspired by and vinaigrette from crumb blog
20 minutes, serves 4

for the vinaigrette:
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons real maple syrup
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
2 teaspoons grainy old fashioned mustard
1 small shallot, finely minced
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup olive oil

for the salad:
8 cups mixed salad greens
4 chicken breasts, cooked and thinly sliced
4 ounces goat cheese
1/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 crisp apples, thinly sliced

1. whisk the vinaigrette ingredients together in a small bowl or place them in a mason jar and shake.
2. divide the salad greens among four bowls. top each with  a chicken breast, 1 ounce crumbled goat cheese, 1 tablespoon almonds, 1 tablespoon cranberries, and half an apple. top with vinaigrette.