1 head of lettuce, diced (use your favorite)  •  1/2 C bell peppers, diced
1 bunch green onions, finely chopped  •  1 box frozen peas, thawed
9 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled  •  1 carrot, grated  •  2 T sugar
1 C mayonnaise  •  1 1/2 C cheddar cheese

November 17th is a day full of birthday and anniversary celebrations for many people that I know and love. My uncle Gary is one of those people, today would have been his 50th birthday but unfortunately he recently passed away. So, in celebration of his life and one of the many memories I have of him, I share with you a salad dish he made for every family gathering. This layered chopped salad has many flavors and textures and is easy to make. Unlike many salads that quickly wilt and become soggy, this salad stays crisp and fresh for at least a day after you make it.

Start with a 9×13 glass dish …

Prep: Begin by prepping all ingredients, dice each ingredient small enough to be bite size. Layer the bottom of the 9×13 dish with lettuce, making sure that the lettuce in dry after washing. Sprinkle green onions, bell peppers and frozen peas over lettuce, add a little more than half the bacon, reserving the rest for the top. Now sprinkle carrot and spread mayonnaise evenly over top. Finally, sprinkle with sugar, cheddar cheese and the reserved bacon crumbles. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for up-to 24 hours and serve.

Serves 8

notes: To get your bacon evenly cooked and crispy consider cooking the bacon in the oven. Placed uncooked bacon strips on lined baking sheet and cook for about 25 minutes at 400 degrees. Turn bacon over after about 15 minutes.

in other news: My cooking group, The Stocked Freezer, will be having a Thanksgiving Prep course this coming Monday, November 21st at 5:45pm. To get on the invite list, to receive more recipes and/or other information please email me at: thestockedpantry@hotmail.com

… Wishing my in-laws the happiest of anniversaries today, congratulations on 37 years of marital bliss! Also, wishing my beloved friend, who is a talented photographer, graphic and web designer, and successful entrepreneur, Diana Elizabeth, the happiest 30th birthday ever!!! You’ve gotta check out her blog: dianaelizabethblog.com.  Lots of love to you all.