Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

Do you find yourself buying the exact same salad ingredients and the same bottled dressing every week? Do you want to try new flavors, but find roma tomatoes and romaine lettuce too easy to pass by? If you ever get a little wild streak, I’ve got an idea for you. Instead of throwing the same old tomatoes in the bowl, try marinating them in balsamic vinegar. You can marinate them for as little as 15 minutes or for as long as you like. These marinated tomatoes will change the entire landscape of your salad and leave everyone saying, “Mmmm, what’s different?” While you’re at it, give this recipe a try. The dressing is sweet and sour, accented with the smoky saltiness of bacon. Something different….something very delicious.

Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

For the dressing:
6 slices bacon
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp corn starch
½ tsp salt
1 tsp dry ground mustard
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup water

In large pan, over medium high heat, fry bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in pan.
In medium bowl, combine sugar, corn starch, salt, and ground mustard. Add vinegar and water to the mixture and whisk to combine thoroughly. Pour mixture into reserved drippings and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture thickens.
Chop bacon and add to hot dressing. Serve warm.

For the salad:
spinach
cucumbers
chopped tomatoes, marinated in balsamic vinegar and drained
shredded mozzarella

Toss vegetables in large bowl. Pour warm dressing over salad. Top with cheese and freshly cracked pepper, if desired.