Strawberry Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette

So this is my craving for today. I saw a strawberry stand on the side of the road today and decided that the season had come sooner than expected :) This recipe is AMAZING. Randy and I could eat it everyday! I'm bad with portions, so just use good judgment on the ratio of red onion to spinach and strawberries. Everyone has different tastes. Personally, I like a bit of everything in each bite!

Strawberry Salad:

2 bags of baby spinach
1 bag of baby greens
½ cup moon-shaped sliced celery2 sliced red onions
15 sliced strawberries1 cup sliced, caramelized almonds*
1 cup crumbly goat cheese

Toss baby spinach, baby greens, celery, red onions, and strawberries. Once portioned on individual plates have each guest take their own wanted amount of caramelized almonds, goat cheese, and dressing!

Dressing:

1 cup sugar
2 tsp. salt

2/3 cup red wine vinegar (I like the Pompeian gourmet brand. Makes a big difference!)
2 tsp. dry mustard
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
1/3 cup grated red onion
1 and 1/2 cups of olive oil

Mix all ingredients EXCEPT olive oil. One mixed well, continue mixing fast (blender works well to mix) and SLOWLY poor in olive oil. This allows the vinaigrette to stay blended with the oil. The faster you mix the vinegar mix and the slower you pour the oil, the less separation there will be between the vinegar mix and the oil. Not a big deal, but its annoying to shake constantly.

Caramelized Almonds:

Buy a bag of sliced almonds

1-2 cups of sugar

In small pot heat sugar on low. Stir constantly throughout process. As soon as sugar starts to clump and melt into light brown liquid, get prepared with sliced almonds. As soon as all sugar is melted, stir almonds in really quickly and take off heat. When all almonds are covered, spoon out a thin layer in to a ceramic baking pan or, preferably, a flexible brownie pan. DO NOT USE WAX PAPER. The wax will melt and stick to your almonds. NOT tasty. Let the almonds harden and cool for fifteen minutes, use a spoon to loosen from holding dish, then sprinkle over salad! Or just buy some at the store :)