Strawberry-Cucumber Salad with Almonds and Mint in Strawberry Vinaigrette

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup slivered almonds
• 2 tbsp seedless strawberry preserves or strawberry jam
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• 3 cups English (seedless) cucumber (diced, (about 1 whole English cucumber, chopped))
• 1 cup fresh strawberries (sliced, (or frozen, thawed strawberries, halved))
• 2 tbsp fresh mint (chopped)
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• lettuce leaves (for serving, such as Bibb, Romaine, or red leaf lettuce)