Bacon & Egg Spinach Salad

Growing up, I hated salad. Pretty normal, wouldn't you say?? Then, at about 17 years old, I found out I could never eat salad (and lots of other things!) again, without pretty painful consequences. Funny how gradually, the one thing I missed more than anything else was salad. There really is no substitute for that crisp, cool mix of fresh lettuce and veggies. Ah, salad. Who craves salad, anyway?! Weirdos who don't like chocolate, apparently :) No, I'm just kidding. The chocolate came later. But salad has remained my number one craving.

Luckily, I can eat it now!! Miracle of miracles!! So it is high time to teach my boys to like it. We're starting a bit late, but hit a home run with this one. When I was a kid it was the only one I actually liked, and it still seems to be a child-pleaser. Little Stephen loved it from the first bite!! He even liked the onions!! Joe took some convincing, but about halfway through it he was sold too. Sure, you're adding bacon and eggs and cheese, so you might be lowering the health-factor a tad, but I say the awesomeness of spinach overcomes all!! :)

Bacon & Egg Spinach Salad (from my Mom)
Printable Recipe

1 pound fresh spinach
1/3 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 c balsamic vinegar
1/4 c lemon juice
1/2 t salt

pinch of sugar
dash pepper
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 hard cooked eggs, diced
4-6 slices crisp bacon, crumbled (save grease)

sliced mushrooms

1/2 small red onion, sliced thin

Rinse and tear spinach a bit, then chill. Marinate sliced onions in 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/2 tsp sugar, and a pinch of salt for about 30 minutes. 

Combine oil, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat until it just starts to simmer. Remove from heat and stir in about a tablespoon of the bacon grease.

Toss spinach with eggs, mushrooms, bacon, and onions. Drizzle half the dressing over the salad and toss again. Top with parmesan cheese. (or toss it in too) Reserve the rest of the dressing for people to drizzle as they please. 

Ah, it was so fulfilling feeding my boys salad!! And they didn't throw fits! Well, Joe threatened, but we won him over... dessert bribes are awfully useful...

Tangy, slightly sweet dressing, tender spinach, crunchy smokey bacon...

Eggs!! I love eggs in salad. And those onions turned out super yummy too. And I don't even LIKE raw onions!!

I skipped the mushrooms for my boys, but I love having them in there usually. I am so happy to be eating salad again! I hope you try this one. It's a classic, and a winner. The End.