Do you think I'm a "Nasty" Woman?

It's such an interesting and dynamic time in our country's history. A woman running for president! A "Nasty Woman" at that! Within the context of this blog, "Nasty" means "strong."  "Nasty" means "intelligent." A  president who is "strong". A  president who is "intelligent".  A president who, I can tell, loves to eat some pig for dinner! "Pig" for dinner could be anything from pork chops to bacon  (even grabby, dirty businessmen)  BUT this is a blog about food, not politics, so lets talk bacon.

As a "Nasty" woman myself who likes to eat pig, one of my favorite ways to do so is also one of the simplest, the underrated BLT Sandwich. A really excellent BLT Sandwich can be a thing of beauty. Layers upon layers of savory, succulent and crispy bacon, fried to within an inch of its life, served atop San Francisco sourdough bread toasted to a light golden with garden tomatoes, tender lettuce (maybe some sharp cheddar cheese) and Pink Dressing to seal the deal. Pink Dressing to seal the deal? Did Mary mean to write that? What the heck is Pink Dressing?  

Have you ever heard of a dressing called "Thousand Island Dressing?" Thousand Island Dressing is named for the area in New York. (Look it up.) Pink Dressing is kind of like that but minus all the bumpy bits like pickles and hard-cooked eggs. Our daughter Alyssa, who adores the stuff, gave the dressing its name. Always one to come to a point and unable to say "Thousand Island" as a toddler, Alyssa named the dressing when she was about two years old. The name stuck. Entire generations from here moving forward will be calling the dressing my grandmother created as a young bride "Pink Dressing." Pink was my grandmother, Mary's, favorite color so the name seems appropriate. Credit for first putting the Pink Dressing on the BLT Sandwich however, goes to Alyssa's sister, Mia. Pink Dressing brings all the flavors of a BLT Sandwich together and says, "Lets party!" Depending on the amount of vinegar you add, the Dressing can be as sharp as you like. (I for one adore the sharpness of vinegar in dressing so go for it and add as much vinegar as you like!) The vinegary-sharpness plays upon bacon's smoky sweetness and the tang of the ripe tomato. Mia even loves to dip pizza in Pink Dressing.  This might sound strange but I dip carrots and grape or cherry tomatoes in Pink Dressing and eat them together. The combination satisfies a craving for potato chips but without the guilt of eating a bag!

Getting back to the BLT... Mia is a bona fide BLT lover! How our "Nasty" girl loves to eat her some pig! A BLT makes excellent comfort food and a delicious and quick meal. I like to cook bacon in the oven on parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets, in a single layer, at 400 degrees about 15-18 minutes, flipping the bacon over after 10-12 minutes of cooking and allowing it to become extra crispy. (You can find the recipe for the Pink Dressing on my Recipes Page and in my upcoming cookbook!) Try a dollop of the Dressing on a BLT Sandwich the next time you make one and see if you too don't love to eat you some pig. After all, it is nasty!