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    Spinach Salad – $5 Dinner Challenge

    by 22 Comments

    I do believe I have DIED AND GONE TO SALAD HEAVEN!  Seriously, it’s divine!

    Spinach Salad | 5DollarDinners.com

    When I first saw this recipe last week, I wanted to reach through my computer screen for a taste!  PW is the most amazing food photographer and I love the way she photographs her recipes.

    Then I made a few small modifications to her recipe, like using spinach from the garden, omitting the mushrooms (I’m not the biggest mushroom fan!) and adding pepper to my bacon, instead of buying the more expensive and already peppered bacon that she recommends.

    Spinach Salad | 5DollarDinners.com

    Adding pepper to the bacon

    Spinach Salad | 5DollarDinners.com

    Cooling hard boiled eggs in water instead of with ice (as PW suggests)…we have no ice maker in our freezer! Cold water does the trick too!

    NOTE: I got the bacon on sale for $2.50 and will use it in this meal, the spinach bacon frittata on Thursday and the Crockpot Beans this weekend.  I also got a humongous red onion on sale for $.58 and will use half for this meal, and the other half in tomorrow night’s BBQ Chicken Pizza.

    Here is the cost breakdown of her original recipe, plus what else we had for dinner!

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    Spinach Salad

    Adapted from: The Pioneer Woman

    Yield – 4 servings

    Preparation Time – 20 minutes

    Cooking Time – 30 minutes

    Ingredients

    • 3 eggs ($.30)
    • 7 slices thick cut, peppered bacon ($.83)
    • 1 small red onion (or 1/2 large onion) ($.29)
    • 1 package white button mushrooms (about 12 mushrooms)  (omitted)
    • 8 ounces baby spinach, washed, dried, and large stems removed (free from the garden)
    • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar ($.15)
    • 2 teaspoons sugar  ($.04)
    • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard ($.05)
    • Dash of salt

    Directions

    • Cook eggs: cover with water, bring to a boil, then turn off heat and allow to sit in water for 20 minutes. Drain off water and add ice on top of eggs.
    • Fry bacon until crispy/chewy. Remove to a paper towel. Remove 3 tablespoons grease and set aside. Add 2 add’l tablespoons of grease to a separate skillet over medium heat.
    • Slice red onions very thinly, then add to skillet. Cook slowly until onions are caramelized and reduced. Remove to a plate and set aside.
    • Slice mushrooms and add them to the same skillet. Cook slowly until caramelized and brown. Remove to a plate and set aside.
    • Chop bacon.
    • Peel and slice eggs.
    • Make hot bacon dressing: Add 3 tablespoons bacon grease, vinegar, sugar, and Dijon to a small saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk mixture together and heat thoroughly.
    • Add spinach to a large bowl. Arrange onions, mushrooms, and bacon on top. Pour hot dressing over the top; toss to combine.
    • Arrange eggs over the top and serve.

    Spinach Salad | 5DollarDinners.com

    Total for the salad: $1.66  (Yeah for gardening!!!)

    We also had 2 cups of frozen corn (on sale for $.68/bag this week!!!), leftover meatloaf ($1.50) to round out the meal.  I didn’t think the boys would go for the salad…they had a taste and moved on to the rest of their meal.  They each had a hard-boiled egg as well the corn and meatloaf and a watermelon juice popsicle ($.25) for dessert.

    Spinach Salad | 5DollarDinners.com

    Total Cost $4.09 (Not for him!  He’s priceless!)

    Be sure to head on over to check out the PW’s full photo tutorial here.

    Comments

    1. This looks delicious! I need to peruse PW’s recipes for gluten free goodies soon. I love an inexpensive meal. How much $$ do I get to alot for a family of 6? LOL!
      Jessie at Blog Schmog

      Reply

    8. Yummilicious!

      This makes me think of Easter dinner – I make this salad every year and wait until the last possible second to pour the warm mustard dressing over the greens.

      Sooooo good.

      Love the melon pops – that’s such a great idea if I could get everyone to stop eating the melon!!

      Best to you.

      Reply

    9. We joined the challenge this week! BF Mark and I made Upside Down Deep Dish Veggie Pizza….yummy! Actually, he’s the cook, but I supervised 🙂

      Reply

    19. I love your website…just made this salad and was skeptical about using the bacon grease instead of olive oil, but girlfriend this is delicious…thanks 🙂

      Reply

    20. A really “divine” find. I am an advocate of only toxic-free and preservative-free food and this find is a truly “immaculate” one. I loved the way the green leaves were prepared, looks really crunchy.

      Reply

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