It's Salad Season!
May 16, 2011 by Katherine Mann, FNP
When my son (now 15) was in preschool, he was asked to describe his mom. Besides saying I was 14 (I was 41), he said my favorite food was salad. He was right and it still is my favorite food. There is nothing like a good salad and this happens to be the perfect time of year to create that salad. With local lettuce abounding at farmer’s markets or in CSA boxes or grown in your own garden, take advantage of a big salad for lunch or dinner.
When you are making a salad (especially if it is your main meal), make sure you are incorporating a protein such as fish, chicken, boiled eggs, or beans. Also add a healthy fat like avocado, nuts or seeds. Then fill it full of veggies and fruit—my favorites are red peppers, carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes… Fresh herbs are also nice, try chopping up parsley, cilantro, basil, or thyme in your next salad!
The way to start is with a good dressing. I’ve got a great recipe (passed down from my mom!) that I think works well with any type of salad. It’s designed for a salad with mixed greens, feta cheese, cranberries, and nuts but it is versatile enough to compliment any salad.
Signature Dressing
- 4 gloves of garlic, crushed
- 2 tsp sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup red wine vinegar (you can also try Balsamic or apple cider)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- ½ cup oil
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
Combine all and mix. The red onions get a bit pickly in the vinegar and sugar, this is my favorite part. Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I have to incorporate more salads into your summer!
Categories: Recipe Ideas,
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