Hot Swiss Chard Salad

I miss summer. There I'll admit it. I have this feeling every year, right about now I start thinking about all the fresh food I took for granted last summer. Kale (5 kinds!), basil (3 kinds), broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, peas, swiss chard. Oh and I think on the waste, the things my chickens got which I could have eaten but let slip past perfect. Sigh.

I think my kids miss it too, we were in the grocery store and my 5 year old insisted on a big bunch of red chard. It looked a bit sad but at the same time I wanted that chard as bad he did. So it came home with us for a splash of summer dreaming. It cooked up beautifully in a hot winter salad full of walnuts and bacon and topped with a slice of bosc pear.

Hot Swiss Chard Salad
1 market bunch swiss chard
8 strips bacon
1/2 cup walnuts
teaspoon of sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1 bosc pear-any pear will do, we had bosc

wash and dry the chard
pull the leaves off the stems and set aside
chop the stems into bite size pieces
heat a frying pan over medium high heat
cut the bacon with your trusty kitchen scissors right into the pan
fry stirring occasionally for 5 minutes, toss in the walnut fry and stir for about 5 more minutes
scoop the bacon and walnuts out to a paper towel lined plate and let drain
wipe pan out with another paper towel and return to heat
meanwhile toss the chard stems in the pan, beware of any spatter
stir fry the stems for 2-3 minutes until slightly soft
tear the green leaves into the pan and stir fry another minute until wilted
add the walnuts and bacon and sprinkle with the sugar, stir to combine
taste for salt and pepper add as needed
divide between two-three plates
slice the pear and add a slice or two to each plate

Peace and Love--