Apricot Feta Bacon Summer Salad

On a warm summer day it’s nice to sit on the patio and enjoy a fresh summer salad for lunch.  Use a variety of your favorite greens, add some fruit, cheese and maybe some protein and serve yourself some lite dressing on the side.  The salad I am eating today is diabetic friendly and delicious.  I’m using dried apricots today because I have a few left over from the scones I made.  I like the light tartness and tenderness of the apricots.  If I had some fresh strawberries I’d probably throw them in also!  The measurements in the recipe are for one person but can easily be doubled, tripled, quadrupled.  The proportions don’t need to be exact, you decide how much of each you like in your salad.

Squash and Bacon side dish for the holiday

The holiday season is here!  Our family will have a fried turkey and most likely a baked one too along with my Grandmother’s cornbread dressing.  Today... I'm sharing this great side dish using Zucchini & Yellow Squash and of course...bacon!

Sweet Potato, bacon and onion soup.

There is a lovely gentle rain falling today and it’s a little cool.  Sitting here listening to the weather man promising even cooler temps tomorrow evokes visions of steaming soups in my mind.  As usual I had one thing in mind and must adjust because a key ingredient is not in the pantry.  I really wanted a loaded baked potato soup, but only have sweet potatoes.  Thus, a new sweet potato soup that will satisfy any hungry soul. Here is the recipe, try it, you'll like it. 

Broccoli Bacon Salad

Here is a great summer side dish that is always popular at pot luck gatherings.  I cut it down to a reasonable size for a family dinner today. 

  

Broccoli Bacon Salad

• 2 cups broccoli crowns, chopped
• 1/2 medium red onion, chopped
• 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• Bacon vinaigrette dressing
• 1/2 cup light olive oil mayo (or just mayo)

Prepare all ingredients and fold together.  Make it ahead to give the flavors time to marry.  I didn’t have any Bacon Vinaigrette on hand so I made a dressing to use in it’s place.
Bacon Vinaigrette dressing:

• 1/2 cup Balsamic Vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 1/4 C sugar
• Bacon drippings I had from baking a package of bacon.

Whisk together and heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes to dissolve sugar.  Whisk and pour over broccoli salad.

Pin Win Bacon Wrapped Chicken

This recipe off pinterest from Artsy Fartsy Moma is a winner.  But what isn't delicious with bacon wrapped around it?  The chicken breast hubs brought home were huge so after smashing the chicken flat, I cut them in 1/2 to make the portion reasonable for us.  Go to her site for more details to make this recipe, you'll be glad you did.

Basically you beat your agressions out on the chicken breast, soften with layers of cheese then wrap the bacon around it.

Bake it at 350 F 45 minutes, salivating the entire time you smell it cooking.
And serve it to your man, cause you know how bacon pleases a man.

Now, go visit Artsy Fartsy Mama.
I dare ya.

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