Spinach Salad

Source: the original Kim Blanchard

Ingredients and directions:
for the dressing:
In a medium bowl or liquid measuring cup or jar, mix the following:
1 1/2 Tablespoons poppy seeds
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil (I only added about 1 1/4 because I ran out of oil in the bottle I had open and was doing it one handed holding Callie, so I couldn't get the other bottle open; plus I ran out of room in the bowl I was mixing everything up in - ha - it all turned out okay, though!)
1 1/2 Tablespoons grated purple onion (I wasn't successful with the grating, so I just chopped it really, really fine)
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard (I didn't have dry, so I added 1 teaspoon regular prepared mustard)
3/4 cup white vinegar (I ran out of vinegar - the horror - so I only added about 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

for the salad:
In large salad bowl, combine the following: (my mixing/salad bowls were not large enough, so I had to divide it into two bowls and make two separate salads)
1 1/2 lbs fresh spinach
1 lb sliced fresh mushrooms
3/4 lb grated swiss, jack or mozzarella cheese (I think I used more like 1/2 lb swiss)
1/2 lb bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1 cup cottage cheese
1 medium purple onion, sliced into rings

Right before serving pour 2/3 of the dressing over the salad and toss.  Serve immediately.  You can add more dressing if you need or want to - it makes a lot.

Notes:
Kim suggests making the dressing the day before.  And sometimes she'll even assemble all the other salad ingredients in a large bowl (without mixing or tossing) several hours before and then right before dinner, just pour on the dressing, mix thoroughly, and serve.

I signed up for a salad for the branch Christmas party yesterday (along with a dessert), and decided on this one, a favorite in the Blanchard family.  This is a great salad that can feed a crowd and we've enjoyed it at many a family gathering, including Callie's baby blessing.  Yum, yummy, yum!

P.S. I didn't see this in the Bistro cookbook or blog already, so I decided it was high time to add it!