Chickpea Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes, Fennel & Pea Shoots

Whew! When's it hot outside, sometimes I just can't work up the gaul to fire up the stove or turn on the oven. I just need to give my little 1200w AC unit a break.

I know it's a long way off from tomato season, but the little guys are popping up all over in stores. I couldn't resist. It took me about 17 years, but I learned to love tomatoes. And, the cherry-sized heirlooms are some of my favorite.

This salad combines a lot of fresh, warm weather friendly flavors: fennel, cucumber and one of my favorites, pea shoots.

Frisee Aux Lardons

This is one of my favorite things to get when eating out at a nice neighborhood bistro.

Look, it might be a salad, but there is nothing light or delicate about this dish. Look at those chunks of bacon for god sakes.

Mmmm... bacon. In French gastro-speak the term lardons means any large piece of cooked, crispy bacon. In my own gastro-speak is means delicious.