Holiday Spinach Salad

This delicious jewel-toned salad topped with candied pecans
is a delightful start to your traditional holiday meal.

1-10 ounce package Salad QuickiesÒ  Baby Spinach

Dressing Ingredients- Makes 1 cup
½ cup sugar
1 T poppy seeds
1 T minced onion
¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp. paprika
½ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup cider vinegar

1 small can Mandarin orange segments
½ cup dried cranberries
2 T sesame seeds, toasted

Candied Pecans
1 (6 ounce) package pecan halves (1 ½ cups)
½ cup packed brown sugar
1 cube (1/2 cup) butter

DIRECTIONS
To prepare salad
Lightly rinse the spinach leaves; dry.  Place spinach in a large bowl.  Place the first 5 dressing ingredients in a blender.  While the blender is running, add the oil and vinegar in a slow steady stream until the mixture is thoroughly blended and is thickened.  Drizzle dressing over the spinach.  To serve, place spinach on individual serving dishes and top with 3-4 mandarin orange segments, dried cranberries and a pinch of toasted sesame seeds.  Top with candied pecans. If a complete tossed salad is desired, add all of the remaining ingredients to the spinach and dressing; toss to combine.

To prepare candied pecans
Heat oven to 400F.  Melt 1cube butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add brown sugar and stir until sugar is melted and mixture begins to bubble.  Reduce heat to medium. Add pecan halves, stirring frequently to coat well; about 10 minutes.  Spread nuts, in a single layer, onto a foil-lined jelly roll pan.  Place in oven for approximately 10 minutes, or until pecans are browned and hardened. Stir occasionally.  Let cool. Remove nuts from foil and store in a resealable plastic bag or airtight container.  Nuts can be frozen for later use.

To toast sesame seeds
Heat sesame seeds in skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally for 5-10 minutes, or until nicely browned.  Cool.

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