I don’t know why, but I am just failing horribly at trying to make healthy dishes. It seems like every time I try to put my twist on a recipe that it “twists” the healthy right out of the dish. Last night was no exception. I had decided to make a really light, healthy salad, something simple with a lot of flavor and a homemade ranch dressing, so I could control the ingredients and lighten it up. Well, I think I was influenced by the small, little dudes that sit on your shoulders (you know the guys; one is good, and the other is the evil one, trying to persuade you to choose wrong over right). Last night the good one got his butt kicked. My evil guy must have like a 500-pound weight advantage over the good guy, because he wins often. Here is how he won. You take a simple BLT salad throw in bacon-drippings-soaked croutons and store-bought buttermilk ranch and Voila! Healthy just became, well, Manly!  Maybe that’s my problem; it’s called The Manly Housewife . . . and that’s a mighty tasty problem to have. . . .

Not So Healthy BLT Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

12 Strips of Bacon

4 Cups Spring Lettuce Mix

2 Tomatoes, diced

1 Small Sweet Onion, diced

4 Eggs

4 Slices French Bread, cubed

Shredded Cheese

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Directions

1. In a pan, fry bacon, reserving the drippings from the bacon.
2. Hard boil eggs by placing eggs in a deep sauce pan and cover with cool water until level is 1 inch over the eggs.
3. Bring water to a rapid boil, then cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Place eggs in a bowl of cool water to decrease temperature; then peel and cut in slices.
5. Divide lettuce between 4 plates, and sprinkle each with onions and tomatoes.
6. Place bread in pan over medium high heat and add 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings.
7. Cook for 10 minutes moving the bread constantly; add more bacon drippings until all drippings are added.
8. Crumble bacon onto each salad.
9. Add diced eggs and croutons.
10. Smother with ranch dressing.
11. Enjoy!