Not Your Mama's Broccoli Salad

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I took my mom's (and lots of moms') go-to potluck dish and turned it into Not Your Mama's Broccoli Salad by switching out a few ingredients...but definitely amping up the flavor throughout. It's still perfectly delicious, y'all.

The beauty of being on a nutritious eating plan for over two years means you don't have to start the stereotypical New Year's resolution...you know what I'm talking about. Basically, I usually get a little sloppy on the plan over the holidays and try to tidy it back up in January. This year, I've found myself longing for some comfort foods that I used to enjoy on a regular basis...ones that often date back to my childhood. My goal this year is to try to reinvent some of those timeless classics, only taking a more wholesome approach to them. Today, I'm sharing the salad that made me love salad, (because who doesn't love salad with bacon, right?), but with my own twist: Not Your Mama's Broccoli Salad. Check out this recipe below.

I swapped out a few of the regular ingredients with more wholesome ones. Turkey bacon was one thing that was swapped in for its cousin, regular bacon. Light mayo replaced regular. And to sweeten the dressing, I grabbed Truvia Spoonable. I also doubled the amount of grapes my mom's recipe calls for.
This salad can easily be made ahead, as well. It is perfect for weeknights. Just add the dressing right before serving.

I've actually used Truvia Packets in my morning coffee for some time...as well as in my morning cereal. I really love the texture of it. That's what originally drew me to this sweetener product.

For this salad, it's best to make the dressing before putting the rest of the ingredients together. That way the flavors can marry a bit. I'm kind of a container snob, y'all...and I really love this Truvia Spoonable jar. It was perfection...especially for cooking with. (I'll probably use it for office supply storage when it's empty...it's just a great size and has such a perfect little clicky lid. And who doesn't love a good clicky lid...amiright?).
I make the dressing in its own small bowl before chopping everything else up. Then just refrigerate it for when the salad is chopped and ready.

I also prefer bite size pieces of broccoli in this salad...because, really, who wants to stop and cut up broccoli in a plated salad when they're trying to enjoy it? And the whole "take a bite off the broccoli whilst it's on its fork" makes me look ridiculous. So, I chop that broccoli and show it who is boss, y'all. This is also why I slice the grapes in half. Although, that could also be a texture thing, too. A whole grape adds a slight pop when it's bitten into...while that is fun and all, in a salad I like it slightly softer. Especially when it's being paired up with something as crunchy as broccoli. Plus the almonds give a good crunch, too...so slice the grapes up. We don't need a battle of the crunch factor in this one.
If I want to use this salad as a meal, I may even add chopped, cooked chicken to it.

After everything is chopped and combined, dress the salad and toss it to coat evenly.

Don't worry too much about the turkey bacon sticking together. A piece or two may do that, but it's not anything noticeable once it's being eaten.

It's the classic favor combo...which, in my book, is absolutely amazing.
Be sure to request a sample of Truvia here.

I grabbed my Truvia Spoonable in Walmart, in the baking aisle.

Not Your Mama's Broccoli Salad
Click here for printable recipe.

Ingredients:

Dressing:

1 1/2 cups light mayonnaise
1/4 cup Truvia Spoonable sweetener
1/4 cup red wine vinegar

Salad:

2 bunches broccoli, chopped into bite-size pieces
1 small red onion, diced
1 (12 ounce package) turkey bacon, cooked and chopped
1 bunch of grapes, each sliced in half
1/2 cup sliced almonds
(to make this more of a meal in itself, feel free to add chopped, cooked chicken, too)

Directions:
Combine ingredients for dressing in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate.
Mix salad ingredients. Pour dressing over top and toss. Refrigerate or serve immediately.
Click here for printable recipe.