Seven Layer Salad

For Easter, my family came in town from Florida and my sister also flew up from Dallas. It was their first time to come visit Chris and me in Kansas, and the first time for them to see our house. We wanted to do a few things that have been traditions in our household for holidays, and the one thing I really wanted to make was my grandma Nanny's seven layer salad.

Seven Layer Salad

If you've never had this, it's wonderfuly fresh with lots of greens, then a thin layor of mayo, some cheese and beautiful chopped bacon. 

Grandma Nanny is my mom's mom and she and my granddad still lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She made this a lot for holidays when I was growing up, and I particularly remember it around Easter time. I asked her for her recipe back in college {before I even cooked at all} and she wrote it for me on this cute little recipe card with a picture of a girl on the front.

I hadn't seen the card in a while and actually thought that I lost it. Until one day a few weeks ago, I was looking thgough old cook books and it slipped out of one. I was so excited I started jumping up and down! :) Sometimes it's the little things in life! 

Seven Layer Salad

     adapted slightly from Grandma Nanny

Shredded lettuce

1/2 C chopped celery

1/2 C chopped green bell pepper

1/2 C chopped green onions

1 can water chestnuts, drained

1 10 oz package frozen peas

About 1 C light mayonnaise

4-6 oz shredded cheese, your choice

8 strips bacon, cooked and chopped {I used thick cut, pepper bacon}

In a large, clear glass bowl, layer in this order: 

Layer the lettuce half way up the side of the bowl. Layer on the celery, then the green peppers, then the onions, then the water chestnuts. For the peas, you can just run a little water over them in a strainer or colander to knock the chill off of them. Add the peas to the salad, then the layer of mayonnaise. I just used enough mayo to cove up the peas. Next add the cheese layer, then the bacon. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 8 hours. 

*** Nanny said that she doesn't add the bacon to the top until she is ready to serve the salad. Also, she said that you can make this the day before serving it. {We had it for leftovers the second day and some liked it even better!}

Chris' parents and sister also came over to celebrate with us and they said that they have had this salad and it was called Governor's salad.

My sister, Jenny, also wanted to make my great grandmother's rolls. She had our younger sis, Meredith, help too. Aren't they pretty?!

We also made my Zesty Ranch Potatoes....

......and a few yummy drinks.

I am so grateful that my family and in-laws were able to come celebrate the first holiday with us in our new home. I hope you all had a wonderful Easter with friends and family! xoxo