Description

This filling salad makes a great lunch or light dinner. It has wonderful layers of pasta, lettuce, crisp bacon, green onion slices and tomatoes, topped with homemade garlic-Parmesan croutons and your own homemade dressing. It's a great dish for those hot

Ingredients

• Dressing:
• 2 c. real mayonnaise
• 1 c. whole buttermilk
• 1 T. freshly chopped chives
• 2 t. cider vinegar
• 2 t. sugar
• 1½ t. garlic powder
• 1½ t. onion powder
• 1 t. celery salt
• ½ t. garlic salt
• ½ t. lemon pepper
• ¼ t. black pepper
• Salad:
• 1 lb. penne pasta
• 7 c. chopped green leaf lettuce, divided
• 6 medium vine-ripened or Roma tomatoes tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1 c. sliced green onion
• 1½ lb. thick cut bacon, crisply cooked and chopped
• Homemade Garlic-Parmesan Croutons:
• 4 c. cubed French bread, ½-inch cubes
• 4 T. butter, melted
• 1 T. chopped fresh Italian parsely
• ½ t. garlic salt
• ½ t. garlic powder
• ½ t. onion powder
• 3 T. grated Parmesan cheese
• cherry tomatoes, halved for garnish, if desired

Steps

1. Wash all veggies; seed, chop or slice according to directions.
2. In advance, whisk together all dressing ingredients in a medium size bowl; cover; chill.
3. **If desired, make extra dressing to serve on the side, to allow your guests to drizzle more on top to their taste, when serving.