The Big Salad

Somewhere along the line, I got the reputation for making a great lettuce salad. Now I feel nervous whenever I'm asked or volunteer to bring a salad to something... what if it doesn't live up to the hype?  {The hype that's probably all in my head anyway!}

So I was making a Big Salad for lunch today, and it was SPECTACULAR. 

Here's what I like in a salad:

1.  My leaf base of choice is either spinach or romaine, sometimes Boston butter lettuce.  I used romaine today because it's what I had and it lasts the longest in the fridge so it's what I buy most often.  I chop it up into bite sized pieces; it drives me nuts when the lettuce is bigger than my mouth and dressing is constantly wiping off onto my face.

2.  Other vegetables in my salad today were snow peas for crunch (again cut into bite size pieces), some broccoli, and tomatoes.  Tomatoes are my favorite veggie- I know I know, technically a fruit- and they add the perfect juiciness and flavor.  I also added little bit of diced red onion, something I've haven't been able to do since I've been pregnant, but it sounded good today.  Non-pregnant, I always add onion in some form, be it green onions, shallots, red onions, chives... 

3.  Meat and cheese are additional elements I always try to incorporate.  I don't like big old chunks of meat so I usually dice it pretty small.  Today was bacon.  Other times it's leftover from supper the night before- chicken or pork- or I like ham.  As for the cheese, blue is my favorite but another thing I bypass while pregnant, so today was shaved romano.  Other favorites are feta, parmesan, even brie if it's mixed with spinach and strawberries or mandarin oranges.  I was fortunate to have some leftover cheese tortellini to throw in this time, too.

4.  Dressing the salad is the final touch.  My favorite is one I whip up with balsamic, olive oil, a little dijon or honey mustard, and maybe garlic or shallots.  In a pinch, just balsamic and olive oil is still oh-so-delicious.  Today, however, Ken's Steakhouse Italian was good enough. 

So that's my formula for an awesome salad. 

Comments

[steakhouse]

how nice.....i like to eat salad when we eat meat........can you help me to give some tips for making lettuce salad.