Grandma Hadley's

Butterhead. Loosely heading. Green, round leaves with heavy burgundy tinge at tips. Moderate leaf blistering and undulation. Plants average 6" tall and 11" in diameter. Largest leaves average 5.9" long by 6.4" wide. Good flavor and texture. Slightly sweet, moderately bitter. Mid-season maturing. Donated to SSE by Pam Andrew who received this variety in the 1980s from her great-aunt, Flossie (Higgins) Cramer, of Crawford County, Illinois. Flossie remembered her own grandmother, Emma Hadley, growing the lettuce when Flossie was a child (probably circa 1915). A family favorite for wilted lettuce salad with hot bacon dressing. Recipe for dressing: Fry bacon until crisp. Crumble, set aside, and save the drippings. Boil in a pot: 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1/4 cup sugar, and a pinch of salt. Add the bacon drippings. Pour dressing over the lettuce and top with crumbled bacon, diced green onions, and chopped hard-boiled egg. SSE Accession # 111601