SEVEN LAYER SALAD

• 1-1/2 to 2 cups of real mayonnaise
• 1 packet of dry ranch dressing mix
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• 4 tablespoons of half and half or milk
• 1 large head of iceberg lettuce, shredded
• 8 Roma tomatoes, cleaned, seeded and dried well, chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
• 7-8 boiled eggs, reserve a couple for slicing
• 1 to 1-1/2 cups of frozen green peas, lightly steamed
• 1/2 to 1 cup of chopped celery
• 8 slices of cooked bacon, chopped
• 1 to 1-1/2 cups of cheddar cheese, shredded
• Sliced green onion or chopped fresh herbs, to garnish

Instructions

Mix the mayo, ranch dressing mix, sugar and half and half together; set aside.

In a small, clear glass bowl, add half of the shredded lettuce. Lightly squeeze the chopped tomato in layers of paper towels. Sprinkle the tomatoes on top of the lettuce layer, sprinkling all around the outside edges first and working toward the middle. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Slice enough of the boiled eggs to line completely around the outside of the dish first, then chop the remaining eggs and sprinkle all around the inside on top of the tomatoes. Add the peas, again starting from the outside edges and toward the middle. Repeat with the chopped celery. Sprinkle lightly with more salt and pepper. Add the remaining shredded lettuce, top with the chopped bacon and the shredded cheese. Drop the dressing over the top in dollops and spread evenly across the top all the way to the edges, sealing the salad. Refrigerate for up to 24 hours.  

Before serving add sliced green onion, bring to the table and either use salad tongs to extract servings, or toss entire salad before serving, if desired.

Cook's Notes: Ingredient amounts are estimates and depend on the size container you are using. Iceberg lettuce is traditional in this dish, but feel free to mix it up a bit. Use romaine, butter, spinach, or other salad greens, alone or in combination with the iceberg. One packet of dry ranch dressing mix is equal to about 3 tablespoons. Feel free to substitute a commercial dressing for this salad also. 

Other layers to consider: Chopped red, yellow or green bell pepper, sliced, grated or shredded carrots, chopped broccoli, chopped cauliflower, chopped or sliced sweet yellow or red onion, sliced radishes, water chestnuts, sliced jalapeno, sliced mushrooms, cucumber, seeded and chopped - to name a few. Substitute or add in a layer of bow tie pasta, or your favorite pasta, tossing it in a few tablespoons of the dressing. Make it your own!