Mandarin Orange Spinach Salad

Delicious, refreshing salad that can really be adapted to your tastes. I got this from a friend and have had many rave reviews whenever I serve it.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• Dressing

• 1⁄3 cup  salad oil
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup white vinegar
• 1  tablespoon  chopped fresh parsley
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  dash pepper

• Salad

• 1⁄2 cup  slivered almonds
• 3  tablespoons sugar
• 4  cups  torn spinach (or any combination you'd like of romaine, iceburg, spinach etc.)
• 1  cup  diced celery
• 1⁄2 cup  sliced green onion (or sometimes I use red onion)
• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin orange segments, drained

Directions

1. In a jar, combine all ingredients for the dressing.
2. Shake well and refrigerate for at least one hour to blend flavours.
3. (I make it the night before) In a heavy skillet, cook almonds and sugar over medium heat until sugar melts and coats almonds, stirring frequently.
4. Cool.
5. Break apart if necessary.
6. In large bowl, combine spinach, celery and green onions.
7. Just before serving, add almonds and orange segments.
8. Toss gently.
9. Pour dressing over salad and toss.
12. P.S.I always double the amount of almonds because they really add a wonderful flavour to the salad-- and because some mysteriously disappear before they make it to the salad!