Strawberry Avocado Spinach Salad

Hmmm... a salad that's a big hit on Dad's Day?
Yep, that traditional annual feast of charred, bloody barbecued steaks (with chimichurri sauce) was upstaged by a salad.
Old, young, male and female, Dad, Mom, brother, sister.  All agreed on it.
When exactly, does that happen in your life?  Not enough... certainly not enough.

We laughed, we argued (perhaps just broke up sibling disagreements), we cried, we had a good day together.  Hiking, eating and drinking together.  
Sweat, exertion, love and hunger.  What else is needed to make your day?

We had an in depth conversation on whether eating poppyseed dressing would give you a false 'positive' drug test like it was the most important thing of the day.  Someone said the "Myth Busters" confirmed it with a priest and a poppyseed bagel.
Oh, really?
Mythbusters?  Then of course, you win with that argument.
Still, I think this one is still safe serving to your sewing circle, your church group, your gal pals, and yes, even your MEN.

A great salad and a great time with family today.

 (I forgot to show the sliced almonds and the red onion, dang it.

The red jar of liquid is my homemade raspberry vinegar, some day I will blog about it.)

Ingredients
1- 12 oz bag of baby spinach 
1 pint strawberries, hulled, 
1-2 avocados, sliced
1/2 cup (about 4 oz) crumbled gorgonzola cheese 
1/4 c sliced almonds, toasted 
1/2 half small red onion, thinly sliced 

Poppyseed Dressing Ingredients: 

1/2 cup vegetable oil, olive oil or grapeseed oil (whichever you like best)

1/2 cup raspberry vinegar

1/4 -1/2 cup white sugar (I don't like it too sweet.... I use 1/4 cup)

2 Tbsp poppy seeds

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Dash of garlic salt

First make the dressing, the recipe above makes about twice as much as you need.  This will keep a couple months, so that's nice to have for another use.  

OR, use bottled dressing like a raspberry vinagrette or a poppyseed dressing.

Toast the sliced almonds in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes, until they are golden brown.  Cool.

Slice the strawberries, the avocados and the red onion.

I add about half the dressing to the bottom of the bowl and then layer on the following:

• spinach
• strawberries
• avocado
• gorgonzola
• red onions
• sliced almonds   

Toss whenever the rest of your dinner is ready to go. Serve at once.