Warm Spinach Salad for Christmas

The red pomegranate seeds and green spinach leaves make this very Christmas-y... and very healthy

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 10  ounces fresh spinach leaves
• 1  ripe avocado, thinly sliced
• 1  pomegranate, seeds of, only
• 1  cup  thinly sliced mushroom
• 1⁄2 cup  coarsely chopped walnuts
• 3  slices bacon
• 1⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 1⁄2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1⁄3 cup olive oil
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  freshly cracked black pepper

Directions

1. Soak the spinach leaves in cold water briefly, dry well (preferably in a salad spinner) and remove the stems.
2. Place torn spinach leaves, avocado slices, pomegranate seeds and sliced mushrooms into a large bowl and set aside.
3. In a large dry skillet, toast walnut pieces over high heat for 1-1/2 minutes, shaking and tossing constantly.
4. Sprinkle nuts over salad.
5. In the same skillet, fry the bacon until crisp, turning frequently, and remove from pan to drain on a paper towel.
6. Pour off all but 1 TBS of the fat.
7. Over medium heat, blend in sugar, vinegar, oil and pepper and heat through, stirring occasionally until the sugar is dissolved.
8. Crumble the bacon over salad, pour the hot dressing over it and toss.
9. Serve.