Spinach salad with candied walnuts

It is the end of January, and for some reason, I was craving this summer salad. Packed with fruit, spinach and nuts, it has all of the ingredients of a super-healthy salad. And since I'm trying my hardest to avoid eating cheese (it's really not all that healthy, but it's soo good), I felt relieved because this salad definitely doesn't need any type of cheese-- although you could always crumble blue cheese or feta on top. First I will teach you how to candy walnuts, and then I'll explain the process of putting together the salad and salad dressing.

Candied Walnuts (makes enough for leftovers)

1 1/2 cups walnuts
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup water

Really this is a guessing game every time I make these, but this is about how much of each ingredient you'll need. I heat the water and sugar up first in a Teflon-coated frying pan (do not boil), and then toss the nuts in, mixing occasionally with a wooden spoon over low-medium heat. All in all, it takes about 20 minutes. You will see sugary coating around the walnuts about 15 minutes in. Cool for five minutes before serving.

Balsamic honey dressing

1 t honey
1 t Dijon mustard
1 T balsamic vinegar
2 T olive oil

Mix ingredients together in a bowl

Assembling the salad

Layer 2 cups, spinach, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup chopped strawberries, and a handful of candied walnuts. Pour desired amount of salad dressing over and serve.