Bibb and Radish Salad with Bacon Dressing

This is a simple combination of ingredients that I find refreshing. When I was growing up, my father would always serve a huge salad and say "You always need a few leaves to feel good". It is his salads that I carried with me throughout my career as a chef and mother. Cook's Note: For optimum results, chill the lettuce and radishes before tossing and serving. This salad is so refreshing when eaten cold! In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the bacon and 1/2 cup water. Bring the water to a boil and reduce until it evaporates. The bacon will start to render its fat and brown. Lower the heat and allow to cook at a slow, steady pace. When the bacon is crispy and light brown, drain the fat into a medium-size bowl and set the bacon aside. Put the shallots on a flat surface and cut them into thin rounds. Transfer to a large salad bowl and season them with salt, to taste. Add the red wine vinegar and mustard and stir to blend . Stir in the bacon fat, tasting as you go. Start with about 1/4 cup of the fat and taste as you add the rest. There should be a good balance between the bacon flavor and the acidity of the red wine vinegar. Set aside. Put the radishes on a cutting board and, using a small, sharp knife, slice them into 1/4-inch rounds (with the bit of the tops still attached). Add them to a small bowl and stir in the mustard. Add the Bibb lettuce to the bowl with the bacon dressing . Toss to blend. Taste for seasoning, then stir in the radishes and the cooked bacon. Serve immediately.