BLT Salad

Since I started this food blog 2 months ago, both the hubs and I have gained a whopping 15 pounds...each.   I suppose that's a good enough reason to put salad back into my meal rotation.  Will this be the end of my dessert and bread making days?  Yeah, right.  My carb addiction is a voracious and relentless beast.  So while I may not make a new dessert every day, I will certainly still be making (and eating) dessert!

This salad may not be low on the fat scale, but it is quite low on non-complex (simple) carbs.  The only sugar is in the white balsamic vinegar used in the vinaigrette and the small amount of natural sugar found in tomatoes.  It is my version of diet food (not really much of a sacrifice).  Now if this were to be eaten just as a side salad, or a starter with no concern of carbs, I would venture to say that a crusty piece of French bread with a slather of butter would make a nice accompaniment.  But today this is my lunch, without bread:( 

BLT Salad
serves 4 as a side salad or 2 as lunch

8 thick slices of bacon, cut in half
1 teaspoon of minced shallot
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste
1 head of butter lettuce, torn (or half butter lettuce and half red leaf lettuce)
Large handful of grape or cherry tomatoes, cut into small wedges
6 ounces of blue cheese, cut into small wedges, or crumbled

In skillet, cook bacon until crisp and set aside on paper towel.
In small bowl,whisk together shallots, vinegar, olive oil, and lemon juice. Salt and pepper to taste.
In a large bowl, toss the lettuce with the vinaigrette, mound on a plate and arrange bacon, tomatoes and blue cheese around the lettuce.