Monday, January 15, 2007

Spinach Salad and a Meme

Yesterday, my Sunday school class had a potluck lunch. I ended up taking two dishes because I couldn't decide which to make. Later, I'll post the recipe for the pineapple casserole; tonight it's all about spinach. Now before you think "Ew, spinach," listen! You may think of spinach as that stuff that popeye pops out of his cans when he needs strength...I agree, THAT spinach is gross. However, fresh spinach is a totally different story. Fresh spinach is one of the healthiest and most delicious greens you can use. Even if you don't like it cooked, there is a high possibility that you will like it as a salad green. Also, this salad has TONS of yummy extras in it! SO, check out my Aunt Margaret's spinach salad. As it is full of antioxidants, this is my entry for Sweetnicks, ARF Tuesday.
Mandarin Orange, Bacon, and Brittle Spinach Salad
1 bag fresh spinach
1 large can mandarin oranges in orange juice
7-8 slices of turkey bacon (this really is better because it gets crispy and is easy to break)
1 box peanut brittle (I use about half but you can use more)
1 small bottle Italian dressing (light or fat-free will work as well) - I don't use the whole bottle, just put enough on to cover the spinach when tossed

Cook bacon until crispy. Put spinach is a large bowl. Crumble bacon over the spinach. Drain oranges and add to the greens. Break brittle into small pieces and add to salad. Just before serving, pour desired amount of salad dressing over the salad. You need enough to cover the spinach. Toss and enjoy.

Now for the meme. I've been tagged by Rachel at Rachel's Bite to tell 6 weird food things about myself. Here goes:

1. I've never had sushi. Apparently this is really a horrible thing. When I was teaching an ACT review session one Saturday, I told the kids this and they all just gasped in horror. Maybe I should try it!

2. I've eaten horse. Yes, when I lived in Kyrgyzstan, we ate at the home of a national (for about 5 hours, 8 courses, a LOT of food!). One of the appetizers they had was horse. It's pretty fatty but tastes alright. Can't say I'd eat it again, though.

3. I can't drink tea. Yes, I'm from the South and I don't like tea. I taught myself to like coffee but there is just something in my body that keeps me from liking tea. sorry!

4. I like butternut squash but I don't like sweet potatoes. Once again, something in my body just can't handle it. The first two bites are okay but after that I can't swallow any more potato. Sweet potato fries, however, are a different matter!

5. When I was little, I would mash my cake and ice cream together until it resembled mush. It's really very good. Try it some time in the privacy of your own home.

6. I think Papa John's pizza is really gross. The crust is gummy and the sauce just isn't right. This is a bad thing when we have pizza for free lunch at the med center...the ALWAYS get papa john's.

Okay, I'm not tagging anyone this time because I've tagged for a meme like this before and don't remember who I tagged. If you'd like to do this, go ahead and they let me know! :-)

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Are you sure you are from the south? I am thinking you may have been switched at birth or something. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I'm not a Papa John's fan either.

Rachel Rubin said...

I think I'm going to have to try that cake and ice cream thing just because it sounds like a messy fun thing to do!

I LOVE spinach! One of the best salads I've ever eaten was a spinach salad with beans, shrimp and a warm bacon sauce. So spinach and bacon I've done before. My eyes opened up a bit when I read that you added mandarin oranges. But my eyes practically popped out of my head when you also added brittle! That has to be so amazing! What a variety of tastes.

Anonymous said...

I love a good spinach salad. That looks fab!

Unknown said...

Sandi - I was born in maryland...I guess that could be considered out of the South. But I only lived there for 6 months of my life, so I doubt that had an effect!

Peabody - I'm glad to know I'm not alone!

Rachel - It is a fun thing. Somehow mushing it all up is just yummy! The oranges are part of my favorite. The brittle adds some crunch (which my mom thinks is SO important!). But if you do it, be sure to wait to put the dressing on because it "melts" the brittle. Leftovers are wilted but OH SO GOOD!

Kristin - Thanks! I always love the refreshing taste!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a yummy salad, especially with that bacon and peanut brittle. I agree, I hate Papa John's. The sauce is too sweet. But I do like the garlic stuff.

gail@more than a song said...

I love spinach salad, yours looks great.
Sushi, hmm, no thank you!
I've mashed my cake and ice cream together before, even when I was bigger!
But, gasp, not liking sweet potatoes? Tell me you're kidding..I so love sweet potatoes and they are so good for you too! I like them roasted or baked with not much on them.

Anonymous said...

Claire, I can't relate to not liking tea or sweet potatoes...but I hate Papa John's too!

Anonymous said...

I am not a fan of Papa John's either but I have to tell you Claire that I ALWAYS mashed my cake and ice cream together ever since I remember. It is FABULOUS! I even made an ice cream cake that way for a party and everyone thought it was divine.

I also did this meme, you can catch my answers on my site

Unknown said...

Natalia - Those additions really MAKE the salad.

Gail - I really don't like sweet potatoes! I can eat about two bites and that's all. The casseroles are fine but have SO much sugar in them anyone would like them. I've mashed cake and ice cream together as an "adult," but it was in an experiment ice cream cake. I might have to try it again sometime.

Sarah - Yay! We think the same...about Papa John's. Maybe the tea thing is b/c I was a Maryland baby?!

Kate - Apparently more people did that than I would have thought! I've made an ice cream cake that way, too! I thought it was pretty good but I need to work on it...hmmm, do I feel an experiment coming on?

Anonymous said...

Okay, now I may have to make that peanut brittle to make this salad. I love spinach (well, except that canned stuff...) and this looks delicious.

Red Dirt Mummy said...

Oooohhh, I love to moosh up the cake and the ice-cream. It makes it all yummy and creamy and cakey and smooth and well... yummy!

Stacy at Exceedingly Mundane said...

OK, I've had a really similar spinach salad, but I have never heard of putting peanut brittle in it. Sounds good, but I would have never thought of it :)

And oh my, no tea at all, no sweet potatoes and you don't like Papa John's? You'd never make it in my house! I had to learn to drink tea when my hubby and I were dating. I held out on the coffee for about 8 years, but finally gave into that one too. Funny the things we do for love :)

Great entry!!!

Unknown said...

Alisha - Try it...I think the brittle gives a nice crunch.

RDM - I guess we're just kids at heart.

Stacy - Believe me, I definitely know how to make good sweet tea and will make it if my husband wants it but I just won't drink it.