Caribbean Chicken Salad

this picture certainly doesn't do this salad justice.  it is sooo yummy.  the flavors pair together so well, every bite left us craving more.  the recipe came from http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/05/caribbean-salad-with-sweet-orange-vinaigrette/ .  i love this website, they have tons of recipes that are not only delicious, but also easy and generally healthy.  what ties this salad together is, of course, the sweet orange vinaigrette.  i made a few alterations to the original recipe, just to cut back on some of the oil and dry mustard.  i hate mustard, seriously, just about more than anything, so even dry mustard makes me a little wary.  i would leave it out all together, but then i worry how well the vinaigrette will blend.  i know, me and my first world problems. 

Sweet Orange Vinaigrette

1/4 cup fresh squeezed orange juice (about 1/2 of a large navel orange)
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

 1/2 tsp dry mustard
2 Tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp sesame oil
1/4 tspkosher salt
1/2 cup canola oil

to make the salad, i don't use any measurements, just what looks good.  i put handfuls of romaine lettuce onto each dish.  topped with sliced red bell pepper, chopped green onion, diced fresh pineapple (love fesh pineapple!), some dried cherry flavored cranberries (because i couldn't find dried cherries), sliced almonds, and sliced grilled chicken.  i have used canned mandarin oranges when making this before, but this time i only wanted to use fresh ingredients.  top the salad off with the dressing, and you have an amazing dinner!  mr. d used to say that a salad is not a meal, but this has convinced him otherwise.  so even if you're skeptical, give it a try, it will probably change your life.  and, here's another trick that will change your life:  after you chop the green onions, don't throw them away!  green onions will regrow in a cup of water, so you don't have to buy a bunch every time you have a recipe that calls for them.  just place the end stems in a glass of water.

this is my "green onion vase", a special gift made from an old glass coca-cola bottle.  after only one week, my green onions have already grown several inches.

here's a blurry picture showing their progress.  haha, i guess i should start taking pictures with a camera instead of my phone.