Recipe: Fruit Slaw with Poppy Seed Dressing (using lemonade concentrate)

FRUIT SLAW WITH POPPY SEED DRESSING

"A common complaint with slaw is that it tends to become watery and bland once dressed and allowed to sit. Cabbage salads are diluted by the cabbage itself because its cells are full of water that leaches out once a salad is allowed to sit. By salting the cabbage ahead of time, the liquid is drawn out. While this method does take just a bit of crunch out of the cabbage, the salads still have a nice pickle-crisp texture."

FOR THE DRESSING:
1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
FOR THE SLAW:
8 cups shredded cabbage
1/2 fresh pineapple, shelled, cored and cut into chunks
2 oranges, peeled and sliced
1 red apple, cored and cut into chunks
1/2 cup peanuts

TO MAKE DRESSING:
In screw-top jar, combine lemonade, honey, oil and poppy seeds. Shake well to blend. Dressing will keep in refrigerator for 2 weeks.

TO MAKE SLAW:
In a large bowl, toss cabbage, pineapple chunks, orange slices, apple and peanuts with about 2/3 cup lemon poppy seed dressing.

Source: Sharon Thompson, Knight Ridder Newspapers, June 21, 2006