STEAKHOUSE CHOPPED SALAD

This is the type of salad you would get when you went to a steakhouse years ago. I remember having a salad similar to this in a steakhouse in Oak Park, Illinois. My family always loved this salad. It's not fancy but very delicious. If you add a couple more eggs, it would be a complete meal.

4 slices bacon, diced
3 hard boiled eggs

1 small head iceberg lettuce, core removed and chopped 

½ red onion, cut in half and thinly sliced

½ cup chopped green olives

16 cherry tomatoes, cut in half or 2 medium tomatoes, diced

4 scallions, chopped

Dressing

½ cup mayonnaise

2 T apple cider vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

2 t granulated sugar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Fry bacon until crisp and set aside.
Chop eggs, and set aside.

Chop lettuce and place in a salad bowl.

Add red onion, olives, tomatoes, and scallions to salad bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, garlic, and sugar.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pour over salad and toss.

Add the bacon and chopped eggs and gently toss again.

Serves 4

HUEVOS RANCHEROS - RANCHER'S EGGS

This is easy to put together as long as you make the Salsa Fresca first and set aside. You can also buy already prepared salsa to make it even easier on yourself. Chop or shred the cheese, have the beans heated, cook the potatoes and chorizo, if you want to include them in your meal. Chop up the cilantro and slice the avocado after you scramble your eggs.

Salsa Fresca
2 cups finely chopped tomatoes
2 T finely chopped red onion
1 T finely chopped jalapeño pepper
¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves
1 scallion, chopped
½ t red wine vinegar
Zest and juice of ½ lime
1 T extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt, to taste

2 flour tortillas
1 can enchilada red sauce
Monterey Jack cheese, shredded or finely chopped
1 can black beans, heated
4 eggs, scrambled
1 avocado, sliced
Cilantro leaves
Chorizo sausage, optional
Country fried potatoes, optional

In a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, toast one side of the tortilla. 
Spread on a ladle of the enchilada sauce. 
Sprinkle on half of the cheese.

On half of the tortilla, add some beans and then top with half of the scrambled eggs.
Fold the tortilla over and using a large spatula, place on a baking sheet and keep warm in a 225 degree F oven while preparing the other tortilla.

Place each tortilla on warm plates.
Tuck in some salsa, avocado slices, and cilantro.
Place a scoop of sour cream on the side and serve with Chorizo and potatoes, if desired.

Serves 2