Sweet Spinach Salad

This recipe for spinach salad is one of my absolute favorites. The recipe comes from one of my "Taste of Home" cookbooks and I have been making it for several years with great success. Many spinach salads have the addition of oranges of one type or another, but not with a dressing that is also orange in flavor. When my granddaughters were here visiting I found that using a sweeter dressing in combination with fruits, nuts and greens, dinner was a much more pleasant time. If you have family members that aren't crazy about the color green on their plates, you might try this recipe. Blessings...

Recipe:

3 tbsps. orange juice concentrate
2 tbsps. sugar
2 tbsps. cider vinegar
1-1/2 tsps. minced onion
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1-1/2 tsps. poppy seeds
1 pkg. (10 ounces) fresh baby spinach, picked over
1 can (15 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
2/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted

1. In a blender, combine the orange juice concentrate, sugar, vinegar, onion and salt.
2. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Stir in poppy seeds. Refrigerate dressing for about an hour or until chilled.
3. In a large salad bowl, combine the spinach, oranges and almonds. Drizzle with as much dressing as needed.

Serves: 6
Note: I use "Almond Accents" brand Butter Toffee Glazed flavored sliced almonds. We love them in salads.