Bacon, Cheddar & Pea Salad 

Hot summer nights call out for something crisp and cool and this wonderfully light Pea Salad with crisp bacon, creamy cheddar cheese and the POP of cool peas is just the ticket to lower the temperature at dinner time. It makes the perfect side dish or potluck take-along and goes great with grilled meats. Even a baked salmon dinner will scream Summer when served with this pea salad at its side. INGREDIENTS: ½ pound of bacon, cooked, drained and crumbled or finely chopped 1 pound fresh peas (or frozen, thawed in fridge) ¾ cup coarse grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese ½ small red onion, peeled, and finely diced ½ cup of mayonnaise ¼ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper ¼ teaspoon fresh dill, chopped fine DIRECTIONS:  Stir all ingredients together, put in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator for several hours so the flavors have a chance to meld. Gently stir from top to bottom before serving. Store in fridge for up to 3 days, but it won’t last that long…trust me! NOTE: The salad can be served immediately after making it, but tastes even better if allowed to sit, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for an hour or up to three days. It should be eaten within 3 days of being made, though.