Mandarin Orange and Spinach Salad

Ingredients

DRESSING

• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (more or less Tabasco is best for this as it just brings some heat to the party)
• 1 dash black pepper

SALAD

• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 4 cups torn romaine lettuce
• 4 cups torn spinach leaves (or any combination of lettuces)
• 1 cup sliced celery
• 1 cup sliced green onion

• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

Directions

1. 1

   In jar with tight-fitting lid, combine all dressing ingredients; shake well. Refrigerate 1 hour.

2. 2

   In skillet, cook almonds and sugar over medium low heat until sugar melts and coats almonds, stirring frequently. Cool; break apart.

3. 3

   Combine the rest of the salad ingredients.

4. 4

   Toss with dressing and top with almonds--I prefer to top the salad, and at the last minute, as opposed to tossing the almonds in the salad to keep the sugar from being "washed off" by the dressing.