Citrus Red Leaf Salad

Source: Kim Blanchard

Servings: apx 6
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: none
Total time :25 minutes

Ingredients:

Dressing:
· ½ teaspoon orange zest
· 1/3 cup orange juice
· 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar (I use any kind of vinegar)
· ½ cup oil
· 2 Tablespoons sugar
· 1 Tablespoon dry Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix

Salad ingredients:
· Mix of small leaf lettuce and red leaf lettuce – your choice of the proportions to serve about six small salads.
· 1 half of a thinly y sliced red onion (I cut ahead and let sit out for several hours or overnight so not so strong tasting)
· 1 can drained mandarin oranges
· 1 small jicima peeled and cut into thin slices
· 4 oz candied sliced almonds

· One peeled avocado diced
· ½ cup dried cranberries

Directions:
Mix the dressing ingredients in the blender and set aside. I usually make the day before so that the flavors have time to blend.

Numbers: this makes about 6 small salads, but I double when I serve our family.

Comments:
I either buy the candied almonds or I make them myself by putting about 1 Tablespoon of butter and 2 tablespoons of brown sugar in a fry pan and after melting the butter and sugar together toss the nuts in bubbly mixture for a minute and then cool. You are supposed to do it without the butter, but I have a hard time not burning them.

Served at Laurel’s #23 birthday party.