DavidS Caesar Salad - olive oil

Method

• Dressing:
• For best results, mix in a tall narrow cup using a hand blender. Mix olive oil and garlic on high speed until blended. Add Tabasco, Worcestershire and anchovies and mix again until blended. Add mustard and lemon juice and mix again. The dressing will be creamy without the need to add an egg. Add 1/2 of the parmesan cheese and mix again.
• Bacon:
• Place the bacon on paper towel on a dinner plate and cover with more paper towel. Microwave the bacon on high until crisp. The cooking time is approximately 5 minutes depending on the microwave. Crumble the bacon and set it aside on fresh paper towel to cool.
• Croutons:
• Pre-heat over to 425 degrees. Cut the bread into 1" pieces. Place the cubes in a 9" x 12" baking pan. Crush one garlic clove and add it to the bread cubes. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning over the bread. Add the olive oil and stir to mix the ingredients and coat the bread in olive oil. There should be enough olive oil to coat the bread and leave a thin layer of oil in the bottom of the pan. The bread will not absorb all of the oil and, if it does, add more oil. Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and stir again to mix the cubes. Bake for another 10 minutes until the bread cubes are evenly browned. Once the cubes are browned, remove the cubes from the baking pan and place on fresh paper towel to cool.
• Lettuce:
• Tear the lettuce by hand into bite-sized pieces. Wash the lettuce and dry it thoroughly.
• Final Preparation:
• Place the lettuce in large salad bowl. Add the bacon, croutons and remaining parmesan cheese. Be sure that the bacon and croutons have cooled fully. Just before serving, add the dressing and toss the salad. Sprinkle some additional parmesan on top of the salad as a garnish.