That is suum goooood slaw!

When my dad's family gets together, it's always always always understood that the meal is potluck. One year when I was in high school my mom brought this broccoli salad that was sooooooooooo yummy but sooooooooooooo fattening. The mayonaise-based dressing was rich, add to that the bacon and cheese and you can get an idea of what I mean by this salad. ;)

Because my body is intolerant to excessive amounts of grease and fat, I couldn't really enjoy this salad. I was bummed though because it had so many elements I loved but the stupid dressing along with everything else I couldn't have much, if any at all. Until I saw an episode of Paula Deen.

Yeah, I know! The queen of all things decadent and fattening. The woman whose favorite spice is butter, with mayo as a close second. The thing is though, I watched her make the dressing and saw very easily how I could alter it so it wasn't quite so bad. I found this recipe a couple years ago and tonight made it for the first time... WOW!!!

If you want the original recipe, click here. But below is my tweaked version ;)

Broccoli Salad

1 bag broccoli slaw
6-8 pieces of cooked bacon*, crumbled
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup craisins
8 ounces sharp cheddar, diced
1/2 cup chopped tomato
a little less than 1 cup of plain yogurt
2 tbsp mayo
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
salt and pepper

*HEALTHIER TIP: Cook the bacon in the oven on a broiler pan. Grease drips off and away from the meat as it cooks.

Combine the first six ingredients into a big bowl. In a second smaller bowl with a spout, mix together yogurt, mayo, vinegar and sugar. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour as much or as little dressing onto the salad as you like! :)