Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato (BLT) Salad (GAPS-legal)

Mmmm, I love the combination of bacon, tomato, and lettuce.  This is such a simple recipe, but it is so delicious!  Most of the ripe-looking tomatoes at the supermarket were actually picked green and then "ripened" using ethylene gas.  The flavor of those tomatoes is miles away from the wonderful flavor of a real vine-ripened tomato.  For the best flavor, try to use tomatoes that are local and nicely ripened. 

Bacon Lettuce Tomato (BLT) Salad
Serves 1

• 3-4 slices of cooked bacon* (baking is my method of choice for cooking bacon**)
• 1 ripe tomato, chopped
• 1-2 Tb bacon grease, melted
• romaine lettuce, washed and broken into bite-sized pieces
• celtic sea salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2-3 tsp mayonnaise, preferably homemade
• 1-2 tsp red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar**

1. Arrange the lettuce in a bowl. Add the chopped tomato, and then season with salt and pepper. 
2. Chop up or crumble the cooked bacon.  Sprinkle the bacon over the salad.
3. Drizzle the bacon grease and balsamic vinegar over the salad.  Then drizzle the mayonnaise over the salad (homemade mayo tends to be runny enough to drizzle; if your mayo is too thick, you could combine it with the vinegar first and then drizzle it over the salad.)
4. Serve and enjoy! 

*Bacon is listed as not allowed on the GAPS food list.  However, according to the SCD-legal and illegal list, "Smoked bacon that has been fried very crisply is allowed once per week. There are sugar-free bacons available and if you are able to find a source of sugar-free bacon, you do not have to limit your consumption to once per week. Usually the low sodium varieties do not contain sugar but check the labels carefully."  
**To save on active cooking time, you can put a whole package of bacon into a 9X13 glass dish and bake it in the oven.  It takes about 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees. I like to cook it on the bottom rack as it seems to crisp up better down there.
**Balsamic vinegar is listed as not allowed on the GAPS food list.  However, according to the SCD-legal and illegal list, the reason is that many balsamic vinegars have sugar in them.  To make this dressing GAPS-legal, make sure your balsamic vinegar does not have sugar. I use Newman's Own balsamic vinegar, and the only ingredient is "Balsamic Vinegar from Modena Italy".

This post is part of Slightly Indulgent Tuesdays at SS&GF, Monday Mania at The Healthy Home Economist, Fight Back Friday at Food Renegade, Pennywise Platter at The Nourishing Gourmet and Real Food Wednesday with Kelly the Kitchen Kop!