Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad and an Introduction to Cheater Recipes

Broccoli, cauliflower and peppers mixed with cheese and bacon, a delicious and easy side dish that can be made quickly with "cheats". A great dish for your holiday table too!

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

I call this one of my "cheater" recipes. I have quite a few of these that I plan to share. What defines a "cheater" recipe?
It is a recipe that when I am short on time or energy I use subsitutions rather than making it as I normally would. Sometimes a bad day at work calls for substitutions to get dinner on the table. A really bad day at work means if not for shortcuts dinner wouldn't make it to the table at all. I know it is a terrible thing for a food blogger to admit too. I think all savvy cooks have a little cheat sheet stored in their brain to pull out "in case of emergency" though. Shortcuts and substitutions are much better than take out, don't you agree?

So how is this a "cheater" recipe? Normally I would cook the bacon, shred the cheese and cut fresh heads of broccoli and cauliflower for the florets. In this instance, I used bacon bits (real bacon bits, not the crunchy imitation flavored ones) in place of the cooked crumbled bacon, bagged shredded cheese, and the precut broccoli and cauliflower florets from the fresh produce section. Using these time saving tricks gets this salad made in a flash. Great for weeknight dinner or when making a ton of food for a holiday or special occasion meal.

Do you use subs when you have a time or energy crisis? Will you make this as a cheater or go for the do it all yourself version?

Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

For the Salad: 5 Cups Broccoli Florets 4 Cups Cauliflower Florets 1 Yellow Bell Pepper – Cut into small strips 1 Orange Bell Pepper – Cut into small strips 1 Cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese 1/2 Cup Real Bacon Bits For the Dressing: 1 Cup Olive Oil or Regular Mayonnaise 1/4 Cup Diced or Grated Onion 1 Teaspoon Sugar 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper 1/2 Teaspoon Salt Make the dressing by combining all ingredients and mixing well. Refrigerate until ready to use. Mix broccoli, cauliflower, peppers and baking bits. Add dressing and toss until all vegetables are covered in dressing. Add grated cheese just before serving and toss to mix.

©Christy’s Cooking Creations. Please do not use my images without prior consent. Please link back to this post even if recreating and posting this recipe in your own words.