Mandarin Spinach with Caramelized Walnut Salad

Really good with shredded chicken too.

Caramelized Walnuts:

2 cups water

1cup ¼” diced walnut pieces walnuts

3 Tablespoons white sugar

Boil water. Add walnuts and cook for 40 seconds. Strain the walnuts. Combine walnuts and sugar in a bowl. Stir to coat. Place sugar covered walnuts on a sheet pan and bake at 325 degrees for approximately 8 – 10 minutes or until golden brown.

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Dressing:

2 cups canola oil 1 ¼ cups fresh orange juice

1 cup white sugar 6 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice

4 Tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 Tablespoon Spanish paprika

1 Tablespoon table salt

Combine ingredients and whisk to thoroughly dissolve the sugar

Yields approximately 4 ¾ cups.

Salad:

8 cups chopped spinach

1 ½ cups Mandarin oranges

1 cup caramelized walnuts

¼ cup ¼” diced red onions

3/8 cup dressing

Combine ingredients and toss until evenly coated with dressing.

Summer Lemon Salad with Spiced Pecans

This is from Souplantation and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this salad! It's light and really good if you add Manchego cheese instead of Blue.

Dressing- Yields 5 cups

• 3 cups Mayonnaise- whole egg
• 2 cups Lemonade Concentrate
• 2 ½ TBLS Dijon Mustard

Combine ingredients and whisk until smooth. Season to taste with sugar.

Spiced Pecans

• 1 ¼ cups ¼” Diced Pecans
• ¼ lb Butter or margarine
• 2 TBLS White Sugar
• ¾ tsp Ground Cumin
• ½ tsp Table Salt
• 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper

Melt butter in pan. Add sugar, cumin, salt, cayenne pepper. Heat until bubbling and sugar dissolves. Immediately add pecans and stir to coat. Spread pecans on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until brown and toasted.

Salad

• 4 cups Chopped Romaine
• 2 cups Spring Mix Lettuce
• ½ cup Spiced Pecans
• ½ cup Blue Cheese Crumbles
• ½ cup Diced Craisins
• ½ cup Lemon Vinaigrette

Combine ingredients and toss and ENJOY!!