Spinach Mandarin Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

This salad is filled with yummy flavors.  You can use your favorite store-bought poppy seed dressing or make this simple dressing.  It's a great salad to feed a group but if you're not going to eat it in one meal then I would suggest leaving the dressing off and adding it to individual portions.  It will make the greens wilt and nobody wants to eat soggy salad the next day.  Or you could just make a half portion of the recipe.

Spinach Mandarin Salad
1/2 head Romaine lettuce, torn into bite-sized pieces
1 (8-10 oz.) bag baby spinach
1/3 purple onion, thinly sliced
1 large avocado, cubed
1 cup Swiss or Mozzarella cheese, shredded or cubed
1 package bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 large can (or two small) Mandarin oranges, drained (and I also like to slice them in half to make more pieces)
Poppy Seed Dressing to taste

In large salad bowl, combine lettuce, spinach, onion, bacon, cheese, and oranges.  Gently fold in avocado.  Just before serving, toss with salad dressing and serve immediately.

Poppy Seed Dressing
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. mustard
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 green onion, ends removed
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tsp. poppy seeds

In blender, combine vinegar, salt, sugar, mustard, and pepper.  While blender is going, add green onion and then add the oil in a constant stream until it is mixed in.  Pour dressing into a bowl and stir in poppy seeds.