Thursday, April 1, 2010

Irresistible Orange and Sugared Almond Salad

This salad is SO good! My parents were visiting and we had another guest over for dinner. My dad couldn't stop telling me how good it was, my husband ate a MOUNTAIN of it, and our guest literally cleaned out the salad bowl once she had finished everything else on her plate. The sugared almonds and oranges are definitely winners in this salad, and topped with the homemade dressing...to die for! What are you waiting for?! Go make it! :)

Irresistible Salad
Adapted from Real Mom Kitchen's "Cran-Orange Almond Salad"

Salad:

1/2 head iceburg lettuce

1/2 bunch green leaf lettuce

1 orange

Bacon bits

4 oz. almonds

3 tbsp. sugar

Chop iceburg and green leaf lettuce. Peel orange and cut into chunks. Place almonds in a small skillet. Sprinkle with sugar. Heat over medium heat, stirring very often, until sugar coats almonds. This will take 5-10 minutes. You will notice that the sugar starts to melt. Stir constantly until almonds are browned slightly and sugar is sticking to them. Let cool. When ready to serve, place lettuce in a bowl and top with oranges, sugared almonds, and bacon bits. (Real Mom Kitchen didn't use bacon and added onions, cranberries, and jicama. Top it with whatever you like!) Then top individual servings with orange vinaigrette.

Orange Vinaigrette:

1 tsp. grated orange peel

1/3 c. fresh orange juice

2 tbsp. red wine vinegar

1/2 c. vegetable oil

2 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. Good Seasons dry Italian dressing mix

Mix well and pour onto individual servings of salad.