Crunchy Tossed Salad

We are preparing the recipe below for dinner tonight along with burgers cooked on the grill. I wanted to share this recipe even though it may not be quite the "healthiest" recipe, but I promise you it is delicious!

1/2 c canola oil
1/4 c sugar
2 Tbsp vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

1 large head iceburg lettuce, sliced
6 bacon stips, cooked and crumbled
1/3 c sliced almonds, toasted
1/4 c sesame seeds, toasted
4 green onions, sliced
3/4 c chow mein noodles

In a jar with tight fitting lid combine oil, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Shake well. Chill for 2 hours. Just before serving, combine the lettuce, bacon, almonds, sesame seeds and onion in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss. Top with chow mein noodles. 12 servings
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My variations of this recipe:
I usually don't use the sesame seeds.
I like to double the entire dressing recipe because we like alot of dressing on our salad.
If I am serving the salad with a meat for dinner then I do not add the bacon.
This salad is great served with a baked potato or twice baked potato.
I don't always toast the almonds.
Sometimes we add tomato.
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Healthier version of this recipe:
So, I am wondering how it would taste using olive oil instead of canola oil.
Also, could you use Splenda instead of sugar?
If these two changes tasted good this could be healthier version!

A Pot of Yummy Soup/Pasta

OK, I have made another cool weather soup for tonight. I am waiting for everyone to get home so we can eat it. So far, taste testing out of the pot -it's wonderful!!! YUM. Here's what I did:

4 chicken breast
2 cans 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup
2 cans 1% milk
1 large jar of salsa
1 can diced tomato
1 large onion
1 lb Angel Hair Pasta (wheat)

Cut chicken breast into bite size pieces.
Dice onion.
Add chicken and onion in skillet, season to taste and sautee.
In large pot combine soup, milk, can tomato, entire jar of salsa.
After you have sauteed chicken and onion add to your pot of soup mixture.
Bring soup to almost a boil and then simmer for as long as time allows. I simmered for almost 2 hours (this would be another great crock pot dish). Serve over a bed of Angel Hair Pasta.

Now, my soup does not really have a name. For the salsa I chose the WalMart Greater Value brand Southwester Black Bean and Corn Salsa. I believe I will name my soup ......drum roll please..................Southwestern Pasta.

Cara, if you are reading this...you can use the turkey tenderloins instead of the chicken since you are allergic.

Beautiful Disaster, maybe this can be a cooler weater dish idea for you!

Hope you all had a wonderful, good for you dinner. I am going to go over to Weight Watchers online and have a look around again. Just toying with the idea....Have been thinking about it for about two months now....we'll see.