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EASY CROWD-PLEASER |
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Carol's Summer Salad
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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.
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When you take the nuts out of the oven, there will
be a lot of melty toffee stuff all over the pan.
Mix the nuts as they cool, or you'll end up with
a giant praline instead of candied nuts. |
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| source: Carol Lancaster
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Tips
This salad is best served chilled, so keep everything
in the fridge until the last minute and serve immediately.
If you're cooking for vegans, use margarine rather
than butter.
Substitute your favorite seasonal fruit for the mandarin
oranges or strawberries. Berries, fresh oranges, and
ruby red grapefruit offer delicious and colorful variations
or additions.
If you prefer a more savory salad, crumble in 3 ounces
of goat cheese when you toss the salad, or distribute
it equally over individual plates.
We love this salad made with Agrumato olive oil.
Fruit peels are included in the pressing, so the oil
includes essential citrus oil. If you can't find Agrumato,
substitute another citrus olive oil, or use extra
virgin olive oil and a teaspoon or two of fresh orange
zest.
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