Mandarin Orange Salad

Toss lettuce, green onions, almonds, cranberries, cheese, and mandarin oranges together in a bowl.

Prepare the dressing by mixing the sugar, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and poppy seeds. Pour over the salad just before serving.

Note: I toast my almonds by mixing about 4 tablespoons of olive oil with them and about 2 teaspoons of salt. Then I spread them out on a pan and place under a broiler in about 1- to 2-minute-increments until golden brown. This adds a touch of salty to a sweet salad.