Cranberry Cashew Salad

A few years ago, my mom and dad went to some picnic thing for dad's work. Mom brought back a little bit of this salad, which is just fantastic. We got the recipe from the lady who made it, and make it for special occasions (like my birthday.) It's one of my favorite foods! This recipe makes enough for a family, but you can easily double it for a gigantic salad to feed a crowd.

Cranberry Cashew Salad

You will need:
1 bag romaine lettuce pieces
1 granny smith apple, unpeeled and chopped
1 red pear, unpeeled and chopped
1/2 bag shredded Swiss cheese (but Parmesan will work, if you can't find Swiss)
1/2 cup cashews
1/2 bag Craisins

For the dressing:
1/3 cup lemon juice
2/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp salt
2 tsp minced onion (the dried stuff from the spice aisle is fine)
1 tbsp poppy seeds

Combine dressing ingredients and whisk together. Layer salad in a bowl, and pour the dressing on shortly before serving. Toss and serve.