Bacon, and Caramelized Onion Salad with Homemade Bacon Vinaigrette

Sometimes we all make some great decisions. Other times we make some really shitty ones… Needless to say I've made both in a period of two days. The bad decision was thinking my fiancé and I would be able to help someone out by taking care of their dog for a couple of months. I mean in reality it's really not a bad thing, but for a cat lover like me it's created two different sides of our little family. Myself and Bella (cat) on one side, Rick and Allie (dog) on the other… Who knew in two days such little four-legged creatures could create such chaos in our tiny home!
The good decision though that may have been the saving grace was this quick and simple salad. (Who knew!) Yet all four of us bonded over the smell of bacon sizzling in the skillet, and all of us partook in a little tasting before the salad was done. So will the next two months be fixed over a plate of bacon? Probably not, but the outlook seems a little sunnier! Unless you hate bacon, in which case I suggest you read no further!

Bacon, and Caramelized Onion Salad with Homemade Bacon Vinaigrette

• Romaine Lettuce Head (Chopped)
• Carrot (1, Grated)
• Red Onion (1/2, Thinly Sliced)
• Sun-Dried Tomatoes in Oil (4, Chopped)
• Bacon (5 Slices, Cut in Half)
• Apple Cider Vinegar (3 Tablespoons)
• Sugar (1 Tablespoon)
• Mustard (1/2 Tablespoon)

Instructions

• In a large bowl combine the Lettuce and Carrot, and set aside.
• In a large skillet fry the Bacon until crispy, turn off the heat, and set the Bacon onto a paper towel to remove excess grease. 
• Saute the Red Onion, and Sun-Dried Tomatoes until caramelized. Place into the salad bowl, and set aside.
• In the large skillet the Bacon was cooked in, leave around 3 tablespoons worth of grease, and add in the remaining ingredients mixing well. This will be the vinaigrette for the salad when needed.

• Crumble the Bacon over the salad, slowly add a small amount of the warm Bacon Vinaigrette, and mix well.
• Plate and Enjoy!

This salad was very tasty, and I personally love warm and cold salad combinations. The crisp romaine lettuce really works with the lightly caramelized onions and warm vinaigrette. Another thing is that it's a double bacon recipe - what's not to love!

Eragon and Brom may not be able to always enjoy nice meals in Eragon by Christopher Paolini - but I can say that going to taverns when they have a moment would be rewarding. The great thing about this type of recipe - no waste. Even the dregs of grease in a skillet are utilized to make another delicious thing.

I'm keen on trying to cook as frugal as possible, and it helps because in Eragon (thus far at least) food can't be wasted - not for a second. Any meals that are rich should be savored, and even then they can't be too obscene in ingredients. My kitchen is going to be a frugal one for awhile, but I'll be splurging every now and then for a tavern style meal.

I'm off to battle the ever epic battle of cat versus dog, they certainly aren't Urgals from the book but sometimes they make me wonder...