This mandarin almond salad recipe is so easy and so absolutely delicious, you will make it over and over again.

Like most salads, you don't have to stick to the exact ingredients, which is why I have offered you so many variations that will taste very good as well.

Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 0 minutes

Ingredients:
1 can mandarin orange sections, drained
1/2 cup whole blanched almonds or slivered almonds
romaine or butter lettuce, torn into bite size pieces or baby spinach

Poppyseed Salad Dressing Recipe:
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Place the almonds on a baking sheet and toast for a few minutes until golden brown. Watch every closely as they can quickly burn. Allow the almonds to cool.

Whisk all the dressing ingredients together. Toss the dressing with the lettuce and add the orange sections. Sprinkle the almonds over top of the salad and serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings.

• This recipe can easily be doubled, tripled or quadrupled to serve as many as you would like.

• Use chopped cashews in place of the almonds.
• Some people add sliced red or green grapes to the salad.
• This salad is a nice addition to a buffet table.
• You can also "toast" the almonds in a dry frying pan over low heat.