Kitchen

[BigOrangeKitty]

What do you put in your salad - and what is your favorite salad dressing? Do you buy it or make your own?

[FastDogWalker2]

I hate to make salad!! Tonight I had a pre-made one from Trader Joe's that had romaine, chopped chicken, carrots, green onion, Chinese noodles and peanut dressing - it was very good.

[Gerri S]

Dear BigOrangeKitty:

Salad is the one part of my meal that every one likes, everyone usually has more than one serving and there is never any left and no complaints!

Also, It is never the same! I use romaine, or green lettuce mixes or arugula, or what ever is on sale at the supermarket (but I do first search for organic super greens). I use a large wooden salad bowl and start with nice plump tomatoes (home grown in the summer by my DH) chopped into bite sized pieces, then nice sweet slices of vidalia onion, I put everything I can find into the bowl, including garbanzo beans, or black beans, or kidney or pinto.....then I add dried cranberries, or raisins or cranraisins, next I add sunflower seeds or pistachio nuts, or mixed nuts of any kind, salted or not, basically I just go through my cupboard and whatever I find I use (I don't but you can add croutons if you like). And everyday that I make salad I add an avocado! I sprinkle Kosher salt atop this huge pile, then I pour white balsamic vinegar and a good extra virgin olive oil over top......I happen to use Trader Joe's vinegar and evoo! I've been doing this so long that I don't measure but basically it's a two to one formula.....two parts evoo and one part vinegar. JUST REMEMBER TO POUR THE VINEGAR FIRST...THEN THE EVOO. Then I put the lettuce (or whatever) leaves on top of all of this and TOSS! Omg so yummy.

In the summer I sometimes add sliced strawberries or blueberries......the point is MAKE IT YOURS.....add what ever favorite tidbits that your family loves. (my Italian sweetie wants me to add anchovies..... but I can't)

You can also make the dressing in a salad bottle/jar the shaker kind, you can add mayo to make it creamier or dijon mustard to make it a little tangy...... use your imagination, believe me you will find your favorite. Hope this helps, let me know.... ENJOY, Gerri

[BigOrangeKitty]

Gerri, thank you for the reply. Your salads sound so delicious! I like romaine, too, and I add onions, cherry tomatoes, thinly slice cucumber, balsamic vinegar and olive oil is a MUST, it's the only dressing I like. I also like your idea of the dried cranberries, must try that. I don't put salt in, however, I did once and the salad became so WET, no other reason for it, it had to be the salt, so I don't use it anymore. Thanks for all the good ideas!

[pattypeep]

On 12/11/2014 BigOrangeKitty said:

Gerri, thank you for the reply. Your salads sound so delicious! I like romaine, too, and I add onions, cherry tomatoes, thinly slice cucumber, balsamic vinegar and olive oil is a MUST, it's the only dressing I like. I also like your idea of the dried cranberries, must try that. I don't put salt in, however, I did once and the salad became so WET, no other reason for it, it had to be the salt, so I don't use it anymore. Thanks for all the good ideas!

Yes, salt will "mush up" the lettuce if you have leftovers. I have gotten to where I do not add salt or pepper, but let the person serving themselves, use what they want. Gerri, your salads sound wonderful !