A Salad With Substance

A refreshing salad is hard to beat on a summer’s night. But sometimes it seems as if a salad can be, well, a little light. So I like to make a spinach salad with crisp bacon pieces.

Bacon adds some heft. Try some of the more gourmet types of bacon found at specialty grocers and upscale supermarkets, such as applewood-smoked bacon. They’re more subtle in flavor with a better pork taste.

Chopped hard-boiled egg, crumbled feta and avocado also add some body to this salad. So stay light for dessert--have frozen fruit bars.

Place mats, napkin, plates and bowl from Pier 1 Import stores.

To toast the almonds, heat a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the almonds and cook, shaking the skillet frequently, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes.

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Summer Spinach Salad

Active Work and Total Preparation Time: 25 minutes

2 eggs

1/4 pound bacon, chopped

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/4 cup Sherry vinegar

6 tablespoons olive oil

2 shallots, minced

Salt, pepper

1 (5-ounce) piece feta, crumbled

1/2 pound red and yellow cherry tomatoes, halved

1 (6-ounce) package sliced mushrooms

1 (10-ounce) bag spinach

1 avocado, chopped

1/4 cup toasted almond slices or slivers

Place the eggs in a small saucepan with just enough water to cover. Bring to a slow boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and barely simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Drain the eggs, run under cold water and peel. Coarsely chop the eggs and set aside.

While the eggs cook, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring once in a while, until the bacon is crisp, about 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.

Whisk together the mustard, vinegar, olive oil, shallots and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.

In a large bowl, toss together the feta, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, avocado, bacon and eggs. Toss again with dressing. Top with the almonds.

4 to 6 servings. Each of 6 servings: 382 calories; 660 mg sodium; 96 mg cholesterol; 34 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 9 grams carbohydrates; 14 grams protein; 3.84 grams fiber.

MENU

Summer Spinach Salad

Breadsticks

Frozen Fruit Bars

SHOPPING LIST

Almond slices or slivers

Avocado

Bacon

Breadsticks

Feta

Frozen fruit bars

Sliced mushrooms

Spinach

Cherry tomatoes

STAPLES

Dijon mustard

Eggs

Olive oil

Shallots

Sherry vinegar

COUNTDOWN

25 minutes before: Cook eggs, fry bacon.

15 minutes before: Make vinaigrette

10 minutes before: Toast almonds. Crumble feta. Halve tomatoes. Chop avocado.

5 minutes before: Toss salad.