Salad Lyonnaise

Instructions

1. Heat 2--3 Tablespoons olive oil and garlic clove until hot.
2. Fry baguette slices making crouton and drain on paper towels. Pour off the oil, discarding garlic, and save oil for another use, like frying crouton for future salads, if desired. Wipe skillet clean with a paper towel.
3. Fry bacon in skillet until crisp and drain on paper towel.
4. You can either drain off the bacon grease and saute onion slices in remaining olive oil. Or you can saute onion in the bacon grease. Either way, let the browned bits from bacon remain in your skillet and saute onion until softened.
5. Meanwhile heat water to simmering in a medium sized saucepan. Water should only be simmering, not boiling. Add a touch of salt and some white vinegar. The vinegar helps the eggs hold their shape in the simmering water.
6. Break eggs into a saucer, one at a time, and gently slide into simmering water. Allow to simmer until desired doneness and whites are set. For an oozing yolk, it takes just under 3 minutes.
7. Using a slotted spoon, remove eggs from simmering water and drain on paper towels.
8. While eggs are draining, complete making the dressing. Add the red wine vinegar and Dijon mustard to the warmed onions and combine well, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Salt is essential for the dressing).
9. Stir in crouton, then add in the lettuce to wilt ever so slightly.
10. Serve up in a large bowl, topping with crumbled bacon and poached eggs.