Kiwi Strawberry Salad with Citrus Dressing

This is my gluten free recipe that I am adding to the "Go Ahead Honey, It's Gluten Free Recipe exchange." This months theme is "uncooking" and is hosted by Cheryl and her GF Blog, Gluten Free Goodness. Her link is http://www.gfandhealthy.com/2008/06/30/go-ahead-honey-july-uncooking-edition/

I am very excited to stumble upon this great way to network with other bloggers and get more recipes into your hands.

My addition to the event is Kiwi Strawberry Salad with Citrus Dressing. I chose this as I was trying to think of what I could make with Kiwis and Strawberries together and had lots of fresh spinach and romaine lettuce in my garden. The salad is beautiful and refreshing. When making the salad dressing, keep in mind that tasting it by itself will taste bland and flavorless. When you add it to salad, its flavor is released when the flavors of the fruit and dressing combine. The Kiwi's and Strawberries really bring out the subtle flavor of the limes. It is sure to please your pallet.

Kiwi Strawberry Salad with Citrus Dressing
3-4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
3-4 cups baby spinach leaves
1 ½ cups strawberries, sliced thin
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
1 cup pecans *

Dressing:
1/2 cup oil, canola or safflower (I used safflower)
1 tsp. lime zest (or zest of one lime)
3 Tbsp. Lime juice, fresh squeezed
2 Tbsp. Orange juice. fresh squeezed
2 Tbsp. honey
1/8 tsp. salt
Fresh Ground pepper
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds

Add chopped romaine lettuce and spinach leaves to large salad bowl. Arrange strawberries and kiwis on salad. Top with pecans.

*Optional: Candied Pecans , in a small sauce pan mix together 2 Tbsp butter, 1 Tbsp orange juice and ¼ cup brown sugar until thick and bubbly. Add pecans and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat and spread onto wax paper or foil to cool.