Fascinating Author Recipe--Erma Bombeck's Overnight Layered Salad

1 medium head of lettuce, shredded

1/2 cup green onion, thinly sliced

1 cup celery, thinly sliced

1 can water chestnuts, drained, sliced

1 10-oz. package frozen peas

2 cups mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

3 hard-boiled eggs, mashed

1/2 to 3/4 lb. bacon, sliced, crisply fried, drained, and crumbled

2 tomatoes cut into wedges.

Place shredded lettuce in shallow 4-quart bowl. Top with green onion, celery, and water chestnuts. Break frozen peas apart; sprinkle over salad. Spread mayonnaise over top. Sprinkle with sugar, Parmesan cheese, seasoned salt, and garlic powder. Cover; chill in refrigerator 24 hours.

Just before serving, sprinkle with mashed hard-cooked eggs and crumbled bacon. Garnish with tomato wedges.

Most people know who Erma was--a humorist who published a column and at least 15 books about suburban life as a homemaker. The poor woman is deceased, so we can't call her up and ask her why she said to slice the water chestnuts. I'm pretty sure you can buy them sliced, so did she mean to dice them? We will never know! Just do the best you can!

To look at her books, go to Amazon. It's amazing to me that even after we writers die, we can still sell books. :D