Wilted Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing and Pomegranate Seeds

I’m sharing healthy today with a beautiful salad.  Oh, I forgot there is bacon in it.  I guess you can use turkey bacon, but I have to have the real thing.  What is it they say, all good things in moderation?  It looks good enough to eat. 

8 slices bacon, chopped up in small pieces
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar (Pomegranate balsamic vinegar if you can find it or vinegar of your choice.  Apple cider vinegar would work nicely also.)
2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tbs. sugar
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 package (10 oz) fresh spinach
2 hard boiled egg, sliced in quarters

Separated seeds from 1 pomegranate

Salt and pepper to taste

To extract the pomegranate seeds cut off the flowery end of the pomegranate.  Score the pomegranate into sections.  Place in a bowl of water.  Allow fruit to soak for 5 minutes.  Break the sections of the fruit open in the bowl of water.  Allow the seed kernels to separate from the rind and sink to the bottom.  Discard the rind and drain the kernels. 

In a large skillet, cook the chopped bacon over medium high heat until crisp. Add the vinegar, lemon juice, sugar and pepper; mix well. Place the spinach in a serving bowl; add the hot bacon dressing and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds and place the egg around the salad and serve immediately.

Variation - If you can’t find the pomegranate, try using a nut to give it texture.  A sliced almond or cashews would be nice. 

Can’t find the pomegranate balsamic vinegar, then make your own by adding a little of pomegranate juice to a good balsamic vinegar.  Serve the salad with a glass of pomegranate juice and a little club soda (equal parts of each).  

You can get a $1.00 off coupon on POM juice at this site:   http://www.pomwonderful.com/pomegranate-recipes along with some nice recipes.  You should start seeing pomegranates in the store about now.

Tomorrow I'll share a couple more game day appetizers with of all things....bacon.

Hope you have a great day.   Be happy and may God bless you and yours.