BLT Pasta Salad

Some times it's fun to take a classic recipe and turn it on its side. That's what's happening here, with a pasta salad version of summer's favorite sandwich, the BLT, that unbeatable combination of bacon, lettuce and tomato between two slices of bread. That's right, it's a BLT Salad instead of a BLT sandwich!

Fresh & Summery. Weight Watchers Friendly. Low Carb.

~ Skip Straight to the Recipe ~

COMPLIMENTS!

• "So tasty. Next time we'll probably add a little more pasta and bacon but the flavour was perfect." ~ Anonymous

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People-Watching At Target

If one is mindful, it is possible to observe lessons taught and lessons learned in unlikely settings: at the local Target store, say, on an errand-filled Saturday, perhaps.

In the shoe department, with Mom apparently shopping elsewhere, Dad is charged with a restless three-year old. Insisting to be let out of the cart, she squats to examine a low shelf of bedroom slippers, yes pink! She lines them up on the floor with precision, then stands to tuck pudgy toddler toes into each Mom-sized slipper, one by one. Dad watches in silence, then returns the slippers to their rightful shelf, one by one.

In housewares, another Mom shops with a son and daughter. Just for something to do, the bored boy leans into the cart to rummage in his mother’s bag. "Matthew!" Mom snaps. "Out of my purse."

Meanwhile, the girl caresses a box of slickly packaged drinking glasses. "Aren't they pretty, Mom?" Mom eyes the package and runs her hand across the girl’s. "They’re beautiful, Sweetie. Wouldn't milk taste good in those?"

Which of these three kids will grow up to be shoppers? Lessons taught, lessons learned.

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BLT PASTA SALAD

A fresh approach for a summer favorite

Hands-on time: 35 minutes
Time to table: 1 – 2 hours
Makes 6 cups

PASTA & BACON
• 1-1/2 cups salted water
• 3/4 cup mini dry pasta such as orzo or shells
• 8 ounces bacon, diced

DRESSING
• 1/2 cup low-fat mayonnaise (my favorite is Hellman’s Light Duke's!)
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

COMBINE
• 2 cups (about 1 pint) grape tomatoes, quartered or 1 - 2 large tomatoes, diced
• 1 sweet onion, diced fine
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, sliced in ribbons
• Cooked Pasta
• Cooked Bacon
• Salt & pepper to taste

TO SERVE
• About 3 cups thin-sliced iceberg lettuce

PASTA Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan on medium high. Add the pasta, reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook until the pasta is just done. Drain and let cool briefly.

BACON While the pasta cooks, cook the bacon in a skillet until crisp, scooping out the fat as it accumulates. (See TIPS.)

DRESSING While the bacon cooks, whisk the dressing ingredients in a large bowl, one that's big enough for the entire salad.

COMBINE Add the tomatoes, onion and basil to the Dressing. Gently stir in the cooked pasta and bacon. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Make ahead this far.) Refrigerate to cool.

TO SERVE Just before serving, stir in the lettuce. Best served the same day.

ALANNA's TIPS Save the leftover bacon grease in a glass container stored in the fridge. It keeps for months and makes for delicious grilled cheese sandwiches, pancakes and sautéed vegetables. To avoid burns, use caution scooping the hot fat out of the skillet. For a more healthful variation of this pasta salad, stir in an extra diced tomato or two. For lunch, I especially like to serve BLT Pasta Salad tucked into a tomato that's been scooped out with a grapefruit spoon and usually leave out the lettuce.

NUTRITION INFORMATION Per Half Cup: 78 Calories; 4g Tot Fat; 1g Sat Fat; 0mg Cholesterol; 244mg Sodium; 9g Carb; 1g Fiber; 3g Sugars; 4g Protein. WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS WW Old Points 2 & PointsPlus 2 & SmartPoints 3 & Freestyle 2

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More Great Recipes for Summer's Best Tomatoes

(hover with a mouse for a description; otherwise click a photo to view the recipe)

~ more tomato recipes ~
from Kitchen Parade

~ more tomato recipes ~
~ Never Take a Tomato for Granted: My Twelve Favorite Tomato Recipes ~
~ Pretty Ways to Serve Summer's Best Tomatoes ~
from A Veggie Venture, my food blog

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Shop Your Pantry First

(helping home cooks save money on groceries)

~ bacon recipes ~
~ tomato recipes ~

~ All Recipes, By Ingredient ~
~ How to Save Money on Groceries ~

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Kitchen Parade is written by second-generation food columnist Alanna Kellogg and features fresh, seasonal dishes for every-day healthful eating and occasional indulgences. Quick Suppers are Kitchen Parade favorites and feature recipes easy on the budget, the clock, the waistline and the dishwasher. Do you have a favorite recipe that other Kitchen Parade readers might like? Just send me a quick e-mail via recipes@kitchen-parade.com. How to print a Kitchen Parade recipe. Never miss a recipe! If you like this recipe, sign up for a free e-mail subscription. If you like Kitchen Parade, you're sure to like my food blog about vegetable recipes, too, A Veggie Venture. If you make this recipe, I'd love to know your results! Just leave a comment below.

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