Guest Cook Thursday: A Salad for the Busy!

With the nice weather upon us, you can't help but think of healthy salads and this week's guest cook was thinking JUST that. She's an "On the Go" kind of girl and she doesn't always have a lot time to spend in the kitchen. So instead, she put together a quick little salad that is quite filling and tasty. In fact it was so tasty, that she named it accordingly. Without further ado Ladies and Gentleman let me have dear Amanda present to you her "Salad of Deliciousness"...OK...Let's prep..

Why hello there TPC! Here is my information for my guest appearance on your blog..mwahahahaha.

Salad full of deliciousness ingredients (all of these are to your liking and how much you want to put in the salad):

Lettuce of your choice (I used a spring mix, but if you can get fresh red leaf lettuce = awesome)

Pancetta

Pistachios

Asiago Cheese (I used Parmesan this time around, but it tastes amazing with Asiago, too)

Homemade Balsamic Dressing:

1/2 C Olive Oil

1/3 - 1/2 C AGED Balsamic (depends on how Balsamicy you like your dressing)

1 TBSP garlic (or more if you like it extra spicy)

Salt and Pepper to Flavor

Start by cooking the pancetta to your liking. I like mine EXTRA crispy so I cook it until it's pretty much burned. Once it's cooked, set it to the side to briefly cool. Prepare your bowl of salad and top with pistachios, asiago cheese and pancetta.

To make the dressing, mix olive oil, aged balsamic, garlic, salt and pepper. I combined them in something I could shake to ensure thorough mixing. Pour over salad and serve!!!

Sounds super easy, and it is..that's what makes it so great. ANYONE can make this! But the flavors combined are wonderful! I've had it two nights in a row now! Great for a dinner salad or full meal! :)

Well there you have it folks....AND we all learned a new word today....Balsamicy!

WINE NOTE: For a Balsamic dressing you could hit two ways here. You could go red with a Dolcetto OR you could go white with a sweet Riesling......or if you're like me....try both!! OR get crazy and try a frizzante Lambrusco, which is kind of an Italian red slightly sparking wine!

Until we do this again....Keep those recipes coming in!

Enjoy....Have Fun...and Eat Well!

TPC