bacon salad... ohh yes

Some things go together beautifully, like popcorn and movies, or rain and hot chocolate. For me bacon, apples, blue cheese, and arugula are that way. They paint a wonderful salty, sweet, contrasting composition in your mouth. If you are one of those people who doesn't think of food like that, if there would be one word to describe this salad it would... yummy.

I made this salad for my dads birthday, we had ten people, two tables pushed together, and delicious food. My mom and I took on the challenge

of making the entree. We had kabobs (my dad grilled), and salad (yum).

Recipe: from the Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients

• 8 ounces thick-cut bacon, such as Niman Ranch
• 8 ounces baby arugula
• 1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup toasted walnut halves, coarsely chopped (see note)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 6 ounces blue cheese, such as Roquefort, crumbled

For the dressing:

• 3 tablespoons good apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
• 2 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2/3 cup good olive oil

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and lay the bacon slices on the rack. Roast the bacon for about 20 minutes, until nicely browned. Allow to cool.

In a large bowl, toss together the arugula, apple, walnuts, cranberries, and blue cheese.

For the dressing, whisk together the vinegar, orange zest, orange juice, mustard, maple syrup, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and the pepper in a bowl. Slowly whisk in the olive oil.

Chop the bacon in large pieces and add it to the salad. Toss the salad with just enough dressing to moisten. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and toss well. Serve immediately.

note: I would half the dressing!