Winter Salad

I saw this salad on one of my new favorite recipe blogs See Jane Cook.  Seriously, you should check it out.  Anyway, I love salads for dinner, and I loved this one too.  I am glad I had so many leftovers, because I fully plan on having some tomorrow for lunch! 

Picture from cjaneinthekitchen.blogspot.com

Winter Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

Dressing:

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup lemon juice
2 tsp diced green onion (or just onion)
1 tsp Dijon-style mustard
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup veg oil
1 Tbs poppy seeds

Salad:
1 head Romain lettuce or a mixture of different kinds of lettuce
4 oz shredded Swiss cheese
1 cup slivered almonds. (or you can use cashews if you want)
1/4 cup dried cranberries (I actually used Craisins)
1 apple-peeled, cored and diced 
1 pear-peeled, cored and diced

Directions:
1. In a blender or food processor, combine sugar, lemon juice, onion, mustard and salt. Process until well blended. Add oil in slow steady stream until mixture is thick and smooth. Add poppy seeds and process just a few seconds more to mix.
2. In a large serving bowl combine the lettuce, shredded Swiss cheese, almonds, dried cranberries, cubed apple and cubed pear. Toss to mix then pour dressing over salad just before serving and toss to coat.



Trust me, it's worth trying.  The dressing is really light and not too lemony, and don't even worry about peeling the apple and pear, I didn't - and it was still really good!  Serve it with a little bit of french bread or some homemade rolls.  Heck, maybe even a little of your favorite soup OR eat it alone.  Yuuuuummmmmy!