Seven-Layer Salad

By MammaB

Seven-layer salad is an American barbecue and picnic classic. It originated in the American South but it has spread to all corners of the globe. Also known as pea salad and 24-hour salad, it's an easy dish to put together and looks magnificent when you're done. You can vary the ingredients according to your tastes, although peas are traditional. The biggest choice is whether to use mayonnaise or salad dressing, but you don't have to stick to only seven layers.

Ingredients

• Tall and wide glass serving bowl
• 1 head of lettuce, chopped
• 1 small red onion, chopped
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 1 10-oz. pkg frozen peas, thawed
• 2 cups mayonnaise or salad dressing
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 4 oz. cheddar cheese
• 8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled

Preparation

Step 1

1. Cook bacon until crisp, drain on paper towels until cool, then crumble.
2. Layer lettuce in the bottom of the bowl. Add onion layer on top of lettuce. Add tomatoes next. Add peas on top of tomatoes.
3. Mix mayonnaise or salad dressing with sugar in small bowl. Spread across the layer of peas to cover completely.
4. Add a layer of cheese, then garnish with the bacon.
5. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
6. Let everyone admire your beautiful handiwork, then mix and serve

Tips & Warnings
• Other ingredients can be added or substituted: artichoke hearts, hard cooked eggs, celery, cauliflower or broccoli are among the options.
• You can even substitute a layer of cooked sugar snap peas in place of the regular green peas.
• Make sure you refrigerate this until it's time to serve. The eggs in the mayonnaise and any other protein ingredients (like hard cooked eggs) need to be kept chilled.
• Make sure you make enough. This salad will disappear fast.