Recipe: Tangy Hot Bacon Spinach Salad

Mmmm....just reading this one will make your mouth water! Tangy vinegar meets the spice of onion and pepper, contrasts with the richness of bacon, and melts into the smoothness of hard boiled eggs, under which the tender bite of fresh spinach provides the perfect foil!  For a truly healthy meal, be sure the eggs and bacon are free-range raised on pasture, and that the spinach is organic - if it's from your own garden, even better!

Tangy Hot Bacon Spinach Salad
(Serves 4.)

(Photo credit: jeffreyw)

Ingredients:

4 slices bacon, diced
1/2 cup diced onion
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
salt and black pepper to taste
4 cups fresh baby spinach, washed and dried well
4 hard-boiled eggs, sliced
hot pepper flakes or smoked paprika for garnish

Directions: 

• In a skillet, cook bacon pieces until crisp; remove to paper towel to drain.
• In same skillet with bacon drippings, add the onion, cooking until just starting to get translucent, then add the apple cider vinegar, stirring to combine and get brown bacon bits from bottom of skillet.
• Turn heat to simmer, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
• To serve, divide washed spinach between 4 salad plates, immediately drizzle hot dressing from skillet over each serving, tossing slightly.
• Sprinkle bacon pieces over each serving evenly, and finally arrange the egg slices evenly over the top. If desired, sprinkle a few hot pepper flakes over each salad or a sprinkle of smoked paprika.