Over the years I have been invited to my share of Potlucks and funnily enough I always have a hard time deciding what to make. I come up with fifty billion ideas and reject them all within a matter of minutes. Too expensive, too spicy, too time consuming, too weird and so on and so on until it’s the day of the Potluck and fortunately I finally remember this salad.

It goes with everything and I always leave with an empty bowl. All of the flavours seem to compliment each other perfectly and balance out. You get sweet from the almonds and mandarins, tang from the vinegar, crunch from the celery and savoury from the parsley and green onion. How perfect is that. Plus the ingredients are available year round and it’s not expensive to make.

I love it and now that I’m calling it ‘Potluck Salad’ I can officially say that is what I will be bringing to any Potluck I am invited to. So bring on the invites I got this covered.

Sorry about the picture. I only had my iPhone handy at my friend’s…

Potluck Salad

1 cup slivered almonds
4 tbsp white sugar
1 head of leaf lettuce
2 cups chopped celery (about 4 sticks)
1/2 cup diced green onion
1 284 mL tin of mandarin oranges
1/2 cup chopped parsley

In a nonstick pan over medium heat spread out the slivered almonds. Allow the pan to warm for a minute then sprinkle over 1 tbsp of sugar. As the sugar melt stir the almonds around. Continue stirring until all the sugar has been dissolved and the almonds have become golden and candied. Spread the almonds over a baking sheet and set aside to cool.

In a large bowl place the chopped lettuce and then sprinkle on the remaining ingredients finishing with the cooled candied almonds.

Dressing

2 tbsp canola oil
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp juice from the mandarin oranges
salt to taste

Combine all the ingredients in a small container with a lid and shake thoroughly.

At the last minute dress and toss the salad.

If you have a no fail Potluck I’d love to hear what it is.  And if not I hope this salad saves your butt a few times too.