Bacon Broccoli Salad

Tips to get you started:

· I use Hempler’s brand natural uncured center cut bacon. When I cut it up to add to this salad I cut it really small so I get bacon with most of my bites, you can certainly choose to cut it into larger bits.

· Use more, or less, avocado mayonnaise based on your preferences for how well coated you want the broccoli to be.

· To save time, large bags of pre-cut broccoli can be found at most chain grocery stores. To save the planet, buy bulk broccoli crowns and use mesh produce bags to get them home without the plastic impact.

· To save time, you may make the dressing and chop the almonds while the bacon and broccoli are cooking.

Prep time: 20 – 30 minutes

Cook time: 15 - 20 minutes

Serves: 6 - 8

Ingredients:

4 Slices high protein, uncured bacon

4 Cups raw broccoli florets

½ Cup avocado mayonnaise

½ Teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest

1 Teaspoon fresh lemon juice

¼ Teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 Tablespoon coconut MCTs

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

2 Tablespoons fresh chives, minced

¼ Cup raw red onion, finely minced

28 Roasted salted almonds, roughly chopped

Part one: Wash and cut your broccoli into florets. Prepare a plate with a paper towel and set aside. In a sauté pan over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until it is crispy, and no white fat remains uncooked.

Part two: Remove the bacon to the prepared plate. Return the pan to the stove leaving the bacon renderings in the pan, add the broccoli to the pan and cook the broccoli florets until most are bright green and have some roasted spots on them. Remove the pan from heat and set aside.

Part three: In a large mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, lemon zest and juice, pepper, MCTs, apple cider vinegar, chives and onion. Mix well to combine.

Part four: Add cooked broccoli to the mixing bowl with the dressing and toss until the broccoli is evenly coated. Set aside for at least 20 minutes for the flavors combine. While the salad is resting, chop up your almonds and cooked bacon.

Part five: Just before serving, mix chopped bacon and almonds into the salad, or top individual servings as they are prepared, to maximize on the crunch of the almonds and bacon.

Serving suggestion: Enjoy as a side alongside a steak, or just by itself as a crunchy lunch salad.

Tiny chefs at home? They can help:

· Measure ingredients

· Zest and juice the lemon

· Toss the salad

Nutrition information: Total Calories: 188 // Total Fat: 15 g // Cholesterol: 23 mg // Sodium: 251 mg // Total Carbohydrates: 9 g // Dietary Fiber: 3 g // Sugars: 3 g // Protein: 6

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.