Winter Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

Winter Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

from See Jane in the Kitchen

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup lemon juice
2 tsp diced onion
1 tsp Dijon-style mustard
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tbs poppy seeds
1 head Romaine lettuce or a mixture of different kinds of lettuce
4 oz shredded Swiss cheese, or Mozzarella Cheese
1 cup slivered almonds. (or you can use cashews)
1/4 cup dried cranberries (I used Craisins)
1 apple, cored and diced
1 pear, cored and diced

Directions:

1. In a blender or food processor, combine sugar, lemon juice, onion, mustard and salt. Process until well blended. Add oil in slow steady stream until mixture is thick and smooth. Add poppy seeds and process just a few seconds more to mix.

2. In a large serving bowl combine the lettuce, shredded Swiss cheese, almonds, dried cranberries, cubed apple and cubed pear. Toss to mix then pour dressing over salad just before serving and toss to coat.

****  Notes:  Recipe called for Swiss cheese, but I had Mozzarella.  It was most excellent with Mozzarella so I added it as an option above.  For those of you who know my aversion to mustard please be impressed.  I made this recipe, with the mustard.  And I ate it, and it was good.  And then I threw away the extra mustard so it didn't contaminate my refrigerator.  I'm NOT kidding.  I have a tip: when cutting the apples and pears, sprinkle a little of the dressing on them to keep them from browning. 

**** Verdict:  Oh the heavens sang... so stinkin' delicious!  So yummy!!!!  So good.  I made this to serve at a big luncheon at my church.  It was a huge hit.  And my kids LOVED it!!!!  LOVED it!  Very good and very quick to throw together!