A Favorite Salad.

I guess I would have to say that my history with salads has been one of love and hate. I want so desperately to be one of those kind of girls who whip out a small, green salad for lunch everyday and eat a few bites and then declare, "Oh, that was delicious. I'm stuffed.". I'm just not that girl. I'll try it from time to time, but I usually end up eating a Ding Dong an hour later. Anyone identify? Well, I recently decided that salads can be fun, interesting, flavorful, low fat, and wait for it....surprisingly filling. I experimented with some different kinds of greens, threw in some new veggies, cooked up a little turkey bacon, and tried my hand at making my own vinagerette. It's been fun and I am really finding combinations that I like. Today, I am posting the recipe for one of my favorite standby salads for company. I call it My Favorite Salad. People ask for the recipe all the time, so I guess I'm not the only one who loves it. I typically use Romaine Lettuce (about 3 heads) mixed with Baby Spinach (1/2 a bag) for the greens. My sister in law sells Vietri and I have the perfect cream colored bowl that I bought from her. I always serve this salad in that bowl. Remember, we eat with our eyes too, so make it pretty. You also need: 3 green onions chopped, 2 Tbsp. roasted sunflower seeds, 6 slices of fried bacon (crumbled), and 1 cup of chow mein noodles. Toss with your greens. The dressing couldn't be easier: Whisk together 4 Tbsp. vinegar, 4 Tbsp. sugar, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper & slowly pour in 1/2 cup vegetable oil while you continue to whisk OR you can put it all into a shaker and mix it that way. You want to dress this salad immediately prior to serving it because the chow mein noodles get limp as time goes by. Sadly, this salad does not make for good leftovers because of that very reason. I'm thinking that's not going to be a problem you'll have to deal with though. This one is pretty much a winner. Enjoy!