8-12 servings.
2 cups unsalted pecan
or almond pieces
1/4 cup butter
or margarine,
melted
6 tablespoons sugar
1 head romaine lettuce,
washed, dried, torn and chilled
1 bunch spinach,
baby if possible, washed, dried, torn and chilled
1/2 cup scallions,
chopped
1/2 cup celery,
diced
16 oz. can mandarin
oranges, chilled
1 pint fresh strawberries,
sliced and chilled
3 tablespoons red wine
vinegar
3 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup Agrumato olive
oil pressed with tangerines or oranges, if
available (see notes for substitutions)
Preheat
oven to 350°. Keep
your greens and fruit in the refrigerator until you're
ready to toss them.
Combine
red wine vinegar, 3 tablespoons sugar and olive oil
in a jar. Put in refrigerator to chill while you complete
the rest of the steps.
Combine
butter and 4 tablespoons sugar thoroughly in a medium-sized
bowl. Add nuts. Stir to coat.
Cover
a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Spread nut mixture
evenly on a foil. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.
Remove from oven. As the nut mixture cools, it may
be necessary to break it apart with a spoon or spatula
every few minutes. Don't go crazy with this step (I
almost said "nuts") just enough to free
the nuts from the extra hardened brittle. Allow nuts
to cool completely.
Combine
spinach, scallions, celery, oranges, strawberries
and nuts in a large salad bowl. Pour oil mixture over
salad and toss gently. Serve immediately.