Add half of the blue cheese and whisk until the dressing is creamy. Add the lettuce, fennel, carrots, cucumber, apple, avocado, basil, and walnuts, and season with salt and pepper. Toss the salad ...

Make the buttermilk blue cheese dressing: In a small bowl ... and a generous pinch each of salt and pepper. Assemble the salad: Tear away any bruised outer leaves from lettuce and slice heads ...