Wilted Lettuce

 I grew a romaine type lettuce this year. I think the name was Green Towers. I picked the leaves as they grew and ate these many times since spring. Then I let it grow into bunches. Yesterday, I picked 4 bunches of this delicious lettuce. There were no holes in the leaves...no limp, squishy, leaves underneath. Just perfect beautiful heads of crispy lettuce. As I picked them, I had a plan in mind. My lunch would be a wilted lettuce salad. Here's how I made it:

After washing and spinning the water out I put the bowl back in the fridge to keep it cold and crisp while I fried some bacon. After the bacon was done, I pulled it out of the pan and kept some of the bacon grease in the iron skillet. I added a small chopped onion to the pan along with 1/4c cider vinegar, 1/4c water, 4 tsp sugar, salt and pepper. I cooked this mixture for a little while... whisking while it cooked. Then I assembled the salad. First the broken up lettuce leaves, then some sliced radishes, then I took a hard cooked egg and crumbled it over the top. I crumbled the bacon and put that on top. Then the heavenly warm bacon dressing on top of that. It was so simple and delicious. 

This salad has been a favorite of mine since I was five yrs. old. During the war, I stayed at my Grandma's while Mom worked. Her neighbor, Mrs. Fowler, had a nice garden. One day she invited me to lunch and this is what we had. I loved it and hoped that she would invite me again. Who would have thought that a five yr. old would like a salad like this? 

Reminds me of the first time I took our new grand daughters to lunch. I asked where they wanted to go and they said, Wendy's. We got to the restaurant and stood in line to order. My little 3 and 5 yr olds both said, "I'll have the salad bar." (at that time Wendy's had a salad bar) I looked at these two little ones with surprise...salad bar?? I never would have thought that they would order a meal like this. It's been a favorite story of mine as they have grown into young women...who still love salads.

I have to go get ready to leave for the pool. When I get home, I'm going to Elizabeth's for tea.

Have a nice day...

Balisha

 I added this at the last....I forgot to take a picture of the salad until it was half gone. It was so good....I couldn't wait.
I'm taking Elizabeth one of my Star Gazer lilies and a loaf of Ernestine's zucchini bread. All I needed was one stem of this lily to make a nice little bouquet. I don't think she has these in her yard. She does have the most beautiful border of purple coneflowers.