Spinach Bowtie Strawberry Salad

Are you having a Memorial Day weekend cookout?  This salad would be an awesome addition to whatever you are grilling up!  We had it for dinner one night combined with grilled chicken.  Absolutely fabulous!  I really liked the dressing but Matt wouldn't even try it because of the vinegar :(  I told him he was missing out (and he was!) but he still didn't try it.  I am still learning how to make salad dressing.  Mine didn't combine very well, so I just did my best to shake it up before I added it to my salad.

Spinach Bowtie Strawberry Salad  Source: One Crazy Cookie

1 bag baby spinach
8 oz. mini-bow tie pasta
1 package bacon cooked crisp and broken into small pieces.
4 oz. mozzarella cheese, cut into about 1 inch cubes
4-6 strawberries cut into bite sized pieces
1/4 cup almond slivers (I omitted)Dressing
1 cup canola oil
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 Tablespoon sweet onion
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
*Optional 1 strawberry (for a pretty pink color)

Directions:

1. Boil pasta as directed on the package.  Rinse under cold water and set aside.  

2. Combine dressing ingredients in the blender. Mix thoroughly.  
3. Place salad ingredients in a bowl.  Toss gently to combine.

4. Shake the salad dressing well before adding to salad.