FALLing for Salad

I LOVE SALAD!  I used to hate it... but then one day I became a grown up and now I love them.  

Most kids don't like salad, but for some reason my kids like it... they actually in reality probably like the dressing more than what is underneath it but hey, who doesn't!

My mother in law introduced me to what they call poppyseed salad.  I LOVE it.  It is probably one of my favorite salads.  So I took the basic idea of the poppyseed salad and added peaches... because after all peaches so much more delicious right off the tree!

Peach, almond, bacon Salad

3 small heads romaine lettuce, washed and chopped

1/2 small red onion sliced into thin strips

2 large ripe peaches sliced and cut into cubes

1 cup cinnamon & sugar almonds (recipe below)

4 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled

1 Bottle Brianna's Homestyle Poppyseed dressing or homemade dressing (recipe below)

Add all ingredients and enjoy!  The bacon and almonds get soggy if left over night so if you want to quickly put it together make all ingredients and store in individual containers.  Right before serving put all together!

I love this salad because it can be a side with a meal or you can add chicken breast and it becomes a full dinner salad.  

Cinnamon & Sugar Almonds

1 cup slivered almonds

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

Add all ingredients into shallow sauté pan.  Cook on medium heat until sugar melts.  Pour onto greased cookie sheet and spread out so very few are touching each other.  Let cool and then break big clumps into smaller ones.

You can also replace the peaches with strawberries & apples, strawberries & pears, grapes, mandarin oranges.  They all turn out yummy!

If you don't want to go to the store for the dressing here is a homemade version of poppy seed dressing that is FABULOUS!

Salad Dressing

1 Cup sugar

2 tsp dry mustard

2 tsp salt

2/3 cup red wine vinegar

1 1/2 cup Canola oil

2 tsp poppy seeds

Mix all ingredients except for oil and poppy seeds.  Mix in blender then slowly add oil while blender is on low.  Mix in poppy seeds at the very end.  This usually makes double what you would need to do for the salad... but its always nice to have on hand and lasts for a long time.