BLT Pasta Salad

I am not a huge pasta salad fan but sometimes you stumble on a recipe that changes everything.  The BLT sandwich is simply delicious, so why not pair the concept with pasta, genius.  This salad is great because you have a full bodied dressing by using the bacon drippings and lots of texture with your components in the salad.  BLT pasta salad pairs with just about everything, so enjoy this the rest of the summer at your picnics and barbecues.

Close Up Shot of BLT Pasta Salad



BLT Pasta Salad               

1 lb pasta of your choice
1 lb thick sliced bacon, diced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp minced shallots
2 tbsp minced fresh basil
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tsp sugar
Salt and black pepper to taste
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
4 cups halved grape tomatoes

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water according to package directions.  Transfer pasta to a bowl of ice water; drain well.  Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp.  Transfer bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate.  Reserve 3 tbsp of drippings; set aside to cool. 

Whisk together mayonnaise, reserved drippings, shallots, basil, vinegar, and sugar in a large bowl; season with salt and pepper.

Stir in pasta, romaine, tomatoes, and bacon; toss to coat.  Season salad with salt and pepper.

This recipe is courtesy of Cuisine at Home; Issue 94, August 2012.

Asparagus, Pecorino and Red Onion Salad



Bacon, Avocado and Tomato Sandwich

This past weekend was beautiful so I spent very little of my time in the kitchen.  We had sandwiches each day for lunch, and I needed my tried and true spring side.  Anne Burrell's Asparagus, Pecorino and Red Onion Salad is so fresh and delicious.  I am crazy about asparagus, and I have had it about every way I can think of - with eggs, grilled, with hollandaise, over a steak, etc.  When I was watching Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and she did a raw salad of asparagus, I thought hmmm... I can't imagine what that must taste like.  Raw asparagus? This could be a swing and a miss, but I figured I would give it a shot.  Sometimes you swing for the fence and you strike out and other times you are rounding the bases high-fiving everyone.  (can you tell I am writing this after playing in a softball game :))


Asparagus Salad Ready for it's Close Up

With this salad you are definitely getting high-fives.  First of all there are only 6 ingredients; most of which you always have in your kitchen.  This recipe is very forgiving, and you can really eye ball and taste your way through it.  I have used both Pecorino and Parmesan Reggiano and love both, so which ever you have got on hand will work.  Definitely, use the large hole side of your box grater so you are able to bite into the salty goodness of the cheese.  The red wine vinegar actually softens the asparagus, the acid "cooks" it, and the color of the vibrant green and the purple of the onion look great on the plate.  Let this salad sit for at least an hour on your counter to really develop the flavor.  Enjoy!