Mandarin Orange, Turkey, Avocado Salad

It's summer and it is hot!

All you want is something healthy, cool, crisp, refreshing to eat that doesn't take a lot of prep and that is filling, but no stuffing. I have the prefect recipe!

My childhood best friend's mother (Mrs. Woodworth) was an amazing cook. She made this salad that was everything you want on a hot summery day. I loved it so much as a child that I acutally asked her for the recipe. She didn't have a 'recipe' so I sat there as she told me what she put into the salad. Since my dear friends in California are suffering from a draught and 90+ to 100+ temps... let me help you out with a great recipe from my childhood that will cool you down a bit.

The Recipe:

Mandarin Orange, Turkey, Avocado Salad

Makes: 2-3 servings 

Ingredients:

1 head of romaine lettuce

1 avocado

1 can of mandarin oranges

1/2 red onion

1 cup of turkey cut in cubes

2 Tbs of slivered almonds 

Drain the canned mandarin oranges and then put in the fridge to chill while you prepare everything else. Rinse your lettuce in old water and pat dry. Then chop lettuce in to bite size pieces - place in a bowl. Cube up your avocado - place in a bowl. Thinly slice your red onion - place in bowl. Then pull out your mandarin oranges - place in bowl. Mix everything up and it is ready to eat.

For salad dressing you can use any light vinaigrette. The one I love is one that my mom makes. It's very simply, sweet and tastey. Just measure equal parts of: sugar, olive oil and apple vinegar add a shake or two of salt (garlic salt works too) and pepper. Then shake it all together or whisk very fast to blend until sugar is disolved. "equal parts" means that you measure 1/4 cup of each sugar, olive oil and vinegar together, or you could do 3 tablespoons of each. Depends on how much salad dressing you want. Any left overs just store in your fridge like other salad dressing.