Spinach Salad

I have three favorite green salads. This one is the easiest of the three to make. I usually make this when I am asked to bring a salad somewhere and I don't want to spend too much time on one. It is yummy and I always get asked for the recipe.

1 bunch spinach, washed and torn (I usually get the baby spinach)
4 slices bacon, cooked crisped and broken into small pieces (I usually double this amount. Who doesn't like lots of bacon?)
1/2 red onion, sliced into fine rings
1-2 eggs boiled and chopped

Dressing
1/2 c. mayo
2 T. red wine vinegar
1/4 c. sugar

I take my sugar and blend it in the blender for about a minute so it becomes closer to the texture of powdered sugar, but not quite. If you don't the dressing can be kind of grainy. Why don't you just use powdered sugar you ask? Don't know, never tried it. I like to mess around with recipes, but not that much. That is just crazy talk.

And another thing about cooking bacon. I don't know if I am just slow or what, but several years I was complaining to my friend that I hate cooking bacon because it is a greasy mess to clean up and stinks up your house for days. She told me to microwave it instead. I'm telling you I will never cook bacon on the stove again. It comes out crisp, it is easy to clean up and is much less stinky. Just put it between several layers of paper towels and microwave on high until done. Watch it closely at the end because it can go from almost done to burnt very quickly!

Add the rest of the ingredients and blend very well for 2-3 minutes.

Add the dressing right before serving.

??? Salsa

This recipe is one of my absolute favorites. It is fantastic. If it wasn't I wouldn't be posting it. I got it from my brother-in-law several years ago and every time I make it, it disappears in seconds. Now I won't tell you the real name of this salsa because then you won't make it. I will let you come up with your own more descriptive name after you see what it looks like.

1/2 c. Italian dressing (the best way is to make your own dressing from a packet. It tastes better than the bottled kind.)
2 T. cilantro, chopped
2 t. cumin
Juice of 1 lime (sometimes I will put in 2 limes for more zing)
1 garlic clove, minced
3 avacados, chopped
4 tomatoes, chopped
1 can black beans drained and rinsed well
1 medium red onion, chopped
1/2 c. feta cheese, crumbled

When you make this salsa stir it only until the ingredients are combined. If you stir it too much it starts to look like well.. I won't say because that would give away the salsa's real name!

Make sure you have a big bag of tortilla chips on hand and enjoy!