Spinach Salad

I am a picky eater.  But boy do I love this Spinach Salad With Sugared Almonds and Poppy Seed Dressing, but we just call it Spinach Salad.  It is definitely something new and refreshing compared to your regular, iceburg lettuce, tomato, and ranch dressing salad.  Don’t be scared, it is still super simple to make!

We had this at Thanksgiving this year, but it is yummy all year long.  Your friends will be so impressed that you made your own sugared almonds and dressing (like it’s really that hard!  But don’t tell them that!)

{Spinach Salad}
1 head lettuce

1 bunch spinach

3/4 lb. sliced mushrooms

3/4 lb. grated Swiss or Mozzarella Cheese

1 red onion

1/2 lb. bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 cup mandarin oranges, drained

1/2 cup slivered almonds

3 Tbsp. sugar

 

 

{Dressing}


3/4 Tbsp. poppy seeds

1/3 Cup White vinegar

3/4 cup oil

1/3 cup  sugar

1 Tbsp. grated onion (opt)

3/4 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. prepared mustard

 

{Directions}

Cook sugar and almonds over low heat until light brown. 

Mix first 5 ingredients; sprinkle almonds, bacon, and oranges over the top.  Serve with Poppy seed dressing. 

 

{A few things to note}

The oranges can make things a little soggy so add them at the last minute.

I always double the almonds and sugar because they make this salad so yummy and special.

But watch the almonds very carefully when you are cooking them, once the sugar starts to get brownish and forms little clumps things go quickly and burned almonds and sugar stink!

It is super delicious to add Crasins and/or strawberries.

This makes a ton of dressing, we fed eight people at Thanksgiving and we hardly made a dent in the dressing.  But it keeps well in the fridge.

 

 

{Photos Courtesy:  Food.People.Want}

Plain and Simple Potato Salad

Today is your lucky day, because today I am going to share with you THE BEST EVER IN THE WHOLE EN-TIRE WORLD POTATO SALAD. I know, it’s not summer yet. But the weather is getting warmer and I am excited for all the good food that warm weather brings. This is my mom’s potato salad recipe, so of course it’s the best. And you’re extra lucky because whenever I call my mom for the recipe she always gives vague measurements, which drives me crazy. So this is the fo’real recipe.

Potato Salad

6 –8 cooked potatoes

6 – 8 boiled eggs

1/2 medium yellow onion

Chop and set aside

1/2 jar Miracle Whip

5 ish squirts of mustard

1/4 cup relish

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 TBSP lemon juice

Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix together, one easy one is to put all ingredients in the Miracle Whip jar and shake. Add sauce to potatoes, eggs, and onion. Makes A-LOT of salad, I usually 1/4 this for us when we make it, and we eat leftovers until I think it’s probably best to throw it out.