BLT Chop Chop Salad

De-LISH!

Diagonal Chop

I didn't want this little baby to go to waste!

It's the PERFECT time of year to make a chopped salad. Vegetables are everywhere and I'm buying them like they're going out of style. What makes a GREAT chopped salad you ask? Anything chopped, indeed! This self-made recipe is a great lunch or side to dinner. It's not complicated and it fills you right up. It has all the components of a great BLT, Bacon, Lettuce (Romaine), Tomato or Turkey, croutons for the bread and cheese to get your daily dairy! The best thing about using romaine as your lettuce of choice is that it absorbs dressing really well. This is an extremely easy calorie cut! For this recipe, I stick to the same brands of things every single time. Of course, you don't have to measure things exactly, just add or take away as you wish. I'm currently eating this salad three times a week. YUM!

Ingredients:

Hearts of Romaine Chopped Fine (1 Large Heart makes a side salad for two, for a meal, I use one large heart per person)

Texas Toast Seasoned Croutons

One Carton Plum Tomatoes

Kosher Salt-TINY pinch

Peppercorn Medley Grinder

Hillshire Farm Turkey (optional-my lunch go-to)

Sharp Cheddar

Johnny Fleeman's Honey Mustard (I've only seen this at Wal-Mart, a good substitute could be O'Charley's Honey Mustard, really any dressing, too!)

Two Slices of Center-Cut Bacon

Directions:

1.) Wash and chop romaine very finely. The best way to do this is chop off the white end first(about 1" up because it is sometimes bitter). With leaves gathered together, slice about every 1/4" until entire heart is chopped. Then, diagonally move the knife over the slices to get a fine and even texture. Cut all plum tomatoes in half.

2.) Cook and crumble bacon. I microwave mine for exactly three minutes. If using turkey, slice it, too.

3.) Leave romaine slightly damp. In a large bowl, mix romaine, tomatoes, cheese, turkey, bacon, and croutons with salad tongs. Add desired amount of dressing, a tiny pinch of salt, pepper grinds, and toss again with tongs. Final product should look light with dressing, if you wish, of course!

4.) Serve!