Strawberry Spinach Salad with Homemade Poppyseed Dressing

 We were headed to a lovely couple's home, they are engaged to be married in just a few short weeks, and they asked us over for dinner as we would talk over wedding details.  My husband is officiating and he is so excited to marry this darling couple. Jacob and Alina made turkey burgers, with homemade burger buns-like whaaaat, sweet potato fries, and all the fixings. I was tasked with contributing a salad. 

I love strawberry spinach salad, i remember my mom and I used to go to Arnie's, and my mom would always get this salad called the Riveria Salad, which was basically spinach salad with strawberries with poppyseed vinaigrette.  I remember sitting in the car with her afterwards and watching her check her teeth in the overhead mirror and looking to me asking,  "Do i have any poppyseeds in my teeth?"

I would never guess i would grow up to enjoy this salad myself one day, or that i would put together a dressing from scratch. I have come a long way, truly. 

Let's get into this salad. 

you'll need:

1-2 bags of fresh baby spinach 

1 cup fresh strawberries sliced

1-2 shallots, finely sliced (i used a mandolin)

feta cheese, crumbled

toasted slivered almonds:

1/4 cup slivered almonds

butter 

brown sugar 

toast in a small pan, stirring constantly, so the nuts do not burn. you want them fragrant and a bit caramelized, you can roughly chop them again if you prefer, or set them aside once you finish assembling the salad..

for dressing:

a small chubby glass jar with lid for shaking 

honey

rice wine vinegar 

1 tablespoon ground mustard 

1-2 tbs poppyseed

pinch of salt 

Toss salad in large bowl. Add sliced strawberries, most of the shallots, as well as some feta. 

Add in toasted slivered almonds once they have cooled a bit.

Shake dressing after stirring or whisking ingredients in jar.

Pour over desired amount on salad to coat it as you wish. 

Serve immediately!