Making Your Own Lettuce Mixes

This is a subject I keep coming back to.  Please don't buy that horrible 'salad'-in-a-bag-stuff!  A really good, crisp, healthy mix of FRESH greens and vegetables that won't wilt, is foundational to an excellent salad.

I was very happy to discover the newest addition to my list of possible ingredients for salad mixes.  I bought this container of organic, mixed baby kale for a casserole type dish I have in mind.  When I tasted it, I realized it would be far better raw, in a salad, or on a sandwich.  These little leaves are full of interesting flavors and have sort of a crisp-tender texture.  There's a grassiness, yet mild bitterness to them that's perfect when combined with a crisp-crunchy, more neutral flavored lettuce such as Baby Romaine or Boston (a.k.a. Butter Lettuce).

This mix is:

3/4 med  sweet onion - sliced

1/4 sm    head of cabbage, red or green - sliced

1 bunch Baby Romaine, slice twice lengthwise -
                then crosswise

2 - 4        pickling  or mini-English cucumbers

1/2 pkg   Earthbound Farm brand Organic Mixed Baby Kale

Wash in your salad spinner basket.  (Mine is a "MAINSTAYS" brand that I bought for  under $10 and I love it!)  Rinse and repeat a few times.  Drain a little then spin several times to dry.  Transfer washed-dry greens from the drainer-basket to the dry spinner 'bowl'.  Once greens have aired out an hour or so, cover with spinner top and refrigerate.  Any time you're ready for a salad, the greens are ready too!  Grab a big handful, drizzle with dressing for a simple salad of baby greens.  If you want more than that, add other chopped, sliced vegetables:  Avocado, tomato, broccoli - fresh or lightly steamed, grated carrots, etc. . .Lin