Peppered Pear Celebration Salad

Ingredients

• 2-1/2 cups cubed day-old French bread
• 5 cups torn mixed salad greens
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
• 1/2 cup seedless red grapes, halved
• 1/4 cup pistachios
• 1/4 cup dried cherries
• 2 medium pears, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• 1 tablespoon seedless raspberry preserves
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped shallot
• 1/4 teaspoon salt