Mandarin Orange and Pecan Salad
Dressing: (You can make this ahead. Keep it chilled, but bring back almost to room temperature before tossing with salad.)
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley
3-4 dashes Tabasco sauce
Salad:
Greens of your choice (enough for about 8 people)
1/3 c. chopped scallions
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 c. chopped "sugared" pecans
For pecans, heat small skillet over medium heat. Add pecans and about 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir and watch closely until sugar begins to melt. Turn down heat and continue to stir until sugar is completely melted. Watch carefully; they can burn very quickly. Remove from heat and cool completely. (You can make these ahead too; keep tightly covered at room temp.)
For salad, whisk sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper, and Tabasco together until the sugar and salt completely dissolve (I usually let it sit about 20 minutes at this point to give them time to dissolve). Whisk in oil. Combine all of the salad ingredients. Whisk dressing and toss well with salad. google_ad_section_end
Dressing: (You can make this ahead. Keep it chilled, but bring back almost to room temperature before tossing with salad.)
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley
3-4 dashes Tabasco sauce
Salad:
Greens of your choice (enough for about 8 people)
1/3 c. chopped scallions
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 c. chopped "sugared" pecans
For pecans, heat small skillet over medium heat. Add pecans and about 1 tablespoon sugar. Stir and watch closely until sugar begins to melt. Turn down heat and continue to stir until sugar is completely melted. Watch carefully; they can burn very quickly. Remove from heat and cool completely. (You can make these ahead too; keep tightly covered at room temp.)
For salad, whisk sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper, and Tabasco together until the sugar and salt completely dissolve (I usually let it sit about 20 minutes at this point to give them time to dissolve). Whisk in oil. Combine all of the salad ingredients. Whisk dressing and toss well with salad. google_ad_section_end