My Favorite Spinach Salad

This salad taught me to love spinach! The dressing is WONDERFUL. I also love it on a lettuce salad topped with dried cranberries, pecans and crumbled bleu cheese.

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1  bunch fresh spinach
• 4 -8  ounces  shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1  cup crouton
• 5 -6  slices bacon, crumbled

• Dressing

• 1⁄2 cup wine vinegar
• 3⁄4 cup sugar or 3⁄4 cup Splenda sugar substitute
• 1  tablespoon  grated onion
• 1  teaspoon paprika
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  cup  good quality olive oil (no substitutes)

Directions

1. Mix first 4 ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. To prepare dressing, warm wine vinegar slightly.
3. Add sugar and stir to dissolve.
4. (If you prefer a tangier dressing, reduce the sugar to 2/3 cup.) If you don't warm the vinegar, you will have trouble getting the sugar to dissolve.
5. Allow to cool.
6. Add onion, paprika and salt.
7. Stir well.
8. Add olive oil and blend.
9. I prefer to put it in a bottle and shake it.
10. Pour over salad and enjoy!