BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato) Salad

Bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches remind me of summer. Summer makes me think of biting into tomatoes that are ripe and juicy (fresh from the garden). With the 4th of July holiday upon us (for those of us in America), this salad seems like a great idea for the occasion. One of the reasons it is so great is that you can make it ahead of time, so that you can enjoy the festivities without the time constraint. I grew up in the middle of America, and this is a classic Midwest dish that you might see at potlucks and gatherings throughout the region. This salad is simple and delicious. It will set off fireworks of flavor in your mouth!

Bon Appetit!

Tips:

You can substitute the bacon for turkey bacon if you so desire.

I use miracle whip in this recipe, but feel free to use any mayonnaise that you like.

Mrs. Dash is a seasoning blend (no salt) that you can find at most grocery stores in the states. If you want, you can substitute Mrs. Dash for a different seasoning blend (no salt) if desired.

Ingredients:

1 pound thick-sliced bacon
2 large heads of romaine lettuce; washed, dried, and cut into bite size pieces (about 16 cups)
3 large tomatoes; cored and cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup Miracle Whip (or mayonnaise)
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash

Directions:

Cook bacon in a large skillet for approximately six minutes, until crispy. Drain on paper towels; crumble the bacon when cool. Place half of the lettuce pieces in a 16 cup bowl. Sprinkle half of the tomato pieces and half of the bacon crumbles over the lettuce. Press on the ingredients to compress down the salad. Spread half the miracle whip over the top. Sprinkle with half of Mrs. Dash seasoning.

Repeat the layering with the remaining lettuce, tomato (reserve some for garnish), bacon, and miracle whip. Sprinkle the top with the remaining seasoning (Mrs. Dash), and use the reserved tomato for garnish. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.