Classic Wedge Salad

The first time I heard of this was on Modern Family. A whole episode was devoted to the Wedge Salad (was there a Wedge Salad Association that had sponsored the show?). I know iceberg lettuce is a bit last century but then again, so am I so I continue to love the crunch and freshness from a good iceberg. It's also perfect for Christmas.

Wedge Salad is usually served with a blue cheese dressing and bits of bacon and spring onions. If blue cheese isn't your thing, a caesar-y dressing also works well. If that isn't your thing, then I can suggest eating a lettuce like Mr NQN's family used to eat cabbages for dinner. That is, his mum would set a whole cabbage down on the dining room table and each child would peel a leaf off and eat it straight. See, blue cheese doesn't sound so bad does it? ;)

Wedge Salad

An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 0 minutes

Serves 6

• 120g/4ozs blue cheese

• 2/3 cup/160ml/5.6flozs buttermilk

• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

• 1 teaspoon chardonnay or wine vinegar

• salt and pepper

• 1 iceberg lettuce

• 120g/4ozs cooked bacon, chopped

• 1/2 cup shallots, chopped

• Parmesan cheese

Step 1 - In a food processor, place the blue cheese, buttermilk and mayonnaise and blend. Add the vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.

Step 2 - Cut the lettuce into half and then three wedges to make six wedges and gently separate the leaves a little. I place the dressing in one of those squeezy bottles which allows you to get the dressing a bit between the layers. Dress the lettuce between the layers (wedge salad is really best served per person as it's hard to divide at the table). Sprinkle with bacon bits, shallots and parmesan cheese.