Browning the almonds in sugar gives a great sweet crunch to this salad. I have to state for the record that this is one of the best salads I’ve ever tasted.

　　

Ingredients

serves 4 to 6

　　1 cup sliced or slivered almonds

　　1/2 cup sugar

　　1 head iceberg lettuce, rinsed

　　1 head romaine lettuce, rinsed

　　1 cup vegetable oil

　　1/4 cup red wine vinegar

　　1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

　　1 teaspoon salt

　　Dash of black pepper

　　Dash of cayenne

　　3 green onion (scallion) tops, thinly sliced

　　1 22-ounce can mandarin oranges, drained and chilled

　　

Step 1

Mix the almonds with 1/4 cup of the sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring as the sugar melts and the almonds brown. Carefully spread the almonds on an ungreased baking sheet to cool, using a metal spatula; the nuts will be very hot. When completely cooled, break the candied almonds into tiny pieces.

　　

Step 2

Tear the iceberg and romaine lettuce into pieces and wash well. Dry the greens thoroughly and transfer them to a salad bowl. Cover and refrigerate if not serving immediately.

　　

Step 3

Combine the oil, vinegar, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and the parsley, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a bowl, and mix well. Chill covered, in the refrigerator, until ready to serve.

　　

Step 4

Combine the lettuce, sliced green onions, candied almonds, and orange segments in a large salad bowl. Just before serving, toss the salad with enough dressing to coat the greens.

　　

From Beth

Step 5

Draining and chilling the mandarin oranges in advance will keep them from breaking apart when you toss the salad.

　　

From Gwen

Step 6

Seeing is believing! This salad is consumed rapidly even by self-professed salad haters!

　　Reprinted with permission from Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen: Recipes from My Family to Yours by Trisha Yearwood with Gwen Yearwood and Beth Yearwood Bernard. Copyright © 2008 by Trisha Yearwood. Published by Crown Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved.Trisha Yearwood is a three-time Grammy-award winning country music star and the author of the bestselling cookbook Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen. She is married to megastar Garth Brooks.