It's Salad Season!! (but isn't it always?)

For me. . .Yes, it's always Salad Season.

Today on my dog-walk with my buddy, Oliver, we still had to avoid sidewalks that are massively drifted over with old clumpy snow. However, there was a sunny-springiness in the air. All I wanted to do when I came home was make a big salad mix.

It varies a bit from time to time, but this one included:

1-1/2 heads of Romaine

1/3 sm. purple cabbage

1/2 lg. Vidalia onion

1 English cucumber

1 celery heart

2 carrots

After tossing I put a big handful in my bowl, then added: 

6 red and yellow grape tomatoes

1 very small mini-avocado

1/2 can drained-rinsed black beans

cubed Manchego and Dubliner cheese

Today's dressing was a variation of my Lemon-EVOO Salad Dressing. I added a little brown mustard, a splash of honey and some finely chopped sun-dried tomato (jarred in EVOO) Mmmm...Tastes like Summer! Lin

Sometimes You Just Need A Salad!

I'm not a big fan of traditional breakfast food, so when hunger strikes in the morning, I'm more likely to be craving dinner leftovers.

Today, after coffee, all I wanted was a big salad. I put together a nice lettuce mix the other day with red and green lettuce, cucumbers and green onion. There was enough left for one more salad, so I was off and running! To this I added cut up, drained and rinsed pickled beets, 2 oz. chopped, roasted chicken, a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds, a splash of dressing and some fresh ground black pepper.

Mmmm! Today It's What's For Breakfast! . . Lin

1 Giant Healthy Salad

½ cucumber - scrubbed

½ lg. roma tomato

½ avocado

1c broccoli florets

⅓ med. yellow onion

1 med. carrot - scrubbed

1 big handful flat leaf parsley

2T crushed salad croutons

splash of Lemon-Olive Oil Dressing *

This is such an easy salad and has tremendous health benefits in each of the main ingredients.  Slice the carrot very thin, chop or slice all the rest and mix in a big salad bowl.  Be creative though, if you're missing a couple of these ingredients. . .Improvise!. . .Substitute! . . . Lin

Steamed And Raw Vegetable Salad

1 lg. carrot - sliced

4 lg. but tender asparagus spears

¼ head of red cabbage

½ lg. Vidalia onion - sliced

1 lg. mini English cucumber -  julienne sliced

½ med. on the vine tomato - chopped

Peggy's Salad Dressing *

croutons and cheese

Steam the first group of vegetables lightly, drain and shock in cold water.  Drain again then put in a large bowl for tossing.  Add the remaining vegetables, dressing and ingredients.  Toss and serve with nuts or seeds as a main dish or keep it simpler as a side salad.  Makes one very large salad or 2-3 smaller side salads. . .Lin