Strawberry Spinach Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Vinaigrette

Recipe slightly adapted from Our Best Bites

Spring is almost here my friends! I was able to get the most DELICIOUS strawberries the other day for this salad and it made me unbelievably happy.  

This is one of my favorite salads now.  It is so fresh and tasty.  I kept referring to it as lip-smacking good! And it truly is!

Strawberry Spinach Salad:

1 (10-ounce) bag spinach

1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

1 cucumber peeled, seeded and sliced

1 lb strawberries, hulled and quartered

1 c. sugared almonds

2 grilled chicken breasts (I used a bag of Tyson pre-grilled chicken)

For the salad, toss ingredients together and serve immediately.

Lemon Poppy Seed Vinaigrette:

2-3 large lemons (use as needed to yield 1/3 c. juice and 1 tsp. zest)

1 tsp. grated white onion

1/4 c. white wine vinegar

1/4 c. canola oil

3/4 tsp. kosher salt

4-5 turns of freshly ground pepper

1/4 c. sugar

2 tsp. poppy seeds

1 large clove garlic, finely pressed

Combine all ingredients together in leak proof container (like a mason jar) and shake vigorously.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  Shake well before serving.

Sugared Almonds:

1 c. sliced almonds

3-4 Tbsp. sugar

Combine together in pan over medium heat.  Stir constantly with wooden spoon (I learned the hard way once with a plastic spoon) until sugar starts to melt.  Continue to stir till almonds are coated in melted sugar mixture. Take off heat.  Cool and serve with salad.