Asian Pasta Salad with Sweet Mandarin Dressing

Oh my goodness this is a tasty salad. Sweet and crunchy with a little zing!

3 cups cooked shell pasta
284 ml/ 10 oz can mandarin orange segments, drained and reserve liquid
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
2 tbsps unsalted peanuts
2 tbsps sunflower seeds
3 cups mixed greens
1/4 cup sliced celery

Dressing:

1/4 cup mandarin reserved liquid
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp ginger powder
1 tbsp plum sauce
1 tsp light soya sauce
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp honey
1/3 cup olive oil

Once the pasta is cooked and chilled, toss together with the remaining ingredients.

Mix the dressing up and add enough to the salad to coat. 

If you want to add beef take a few tbsps of dressing and marinate the meat for about 1 hour. Grill, slice and serve over the salad.  I used a piece of sirloin which unfortunately was cooked indoors. Grilled would have been better. Maybe next time I'll get my "grillmaster" to bbq it for me : )