Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette + A Tale of Two Blouses

I made this salad the other night for our weekly Sunday night dinner at my rent's house. I always bring over a new kale salad for everyone to try. This may be my favorite of all the kale salads I've made. I mean it has bacon AND bacon grease in it, enough said. The salty Gorgonzola cheese and the sweet cranberries plus the bacon is mouth watering.

Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
adapted from 
4-6 servings


Ingredients

2 pounds kale, washed and thoroughly dried
1/3 cup toasted walnuts (cook on a hot, dry frying pan, about med-high till browned and fragrant)
6 slices bacon
2 Tablespoons minced shallots
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup Gorgonzola cheese crumbles

Recipe

Strip the leaves from the stems of the kale, and then roll up the leaves and chiffonade them into thin strips. Place the kale in a large bowl and top with the toasted nuts. 

Bake the bacon in a large pan in the oven at 375 degrees for about 15-18 minutes, till bacon is bubbly and crispy. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Reserve the drippings.

Over medium heat, add 3 tablespoons of the reserved bacon drippings back to a saute pan. (If you don't have 3 tablespoons of drippings, use what you have plus some olive oil.) Add the shallots and sauté 1 minute, stirring constantly. Whisk in the vinegar, mustard and brown sugar. Remove the vinaigrette from the heat and season with salt and pepper.

Chop up the reserved bacon and add it to the bowl with the kale and nuts. Add the cranberries and toss the kale with the warm dressing. Top it off with the Gorgonzola cheese and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Loft has been spot on lately with adorable clothes. Their prices are great and everything is currently 40% off!! I hit up my local Loft on Saturday and came home with two of the most adorable blouses. 

{Blurred Animal Spot Blouse}

 I wore this blouse the night of the Christmas party I threw at my house. It looks just like the Joie blouse I've been wanting but for a fraction of the price. Loft must be starting to do vanity sizing because I had to get an XS and usually I wear a Small or a Medium.

{Crochet Lace Trim Blouse}

The real reason I went to Loft was to try on this blouse and it must have been meant to be because there was one left and it was in my size. This blouse is absolutely precious and fits really flattering. I love that you can wear it casual with jeans or dress it up with black pants. Both of these blouses are machine washable too, jackpot! I got an XS in this as well. 

I finally updated my Recipes tab. Check it out if you're looking for something to make for dinner tonight!