It occured to me yesterday speaking to someone that when someone says they are eating a salad-that could be a lot of different things for each individual. IN fact, I was out to dinner last night and the waiter tried to have my daughter swap her spinach for another "salad" which consisted of eggplant tomatoes and cheese. Hmmmm….I don't think so! I said, "thank you, but, I think she will have the spinach".

Typically our night time meal consists of a raw salad without fail. I prefer using crunchy leaves as opposed to soft ones that wilt quickly once the dressing has been added. So, I often use green or red cabbage-one or the other or both and then trhow in darker leafy greens such as kale or spinach or other dark leafies. Sometimes I will do just spinach as the base-that's about as soft as I get. Then I add in cherry tomatoes orange, red or yellow peppers and onions. Sometimes I will chop up raw leaks instead of onion. I alternate mixing in avocado too-it i makes it quite rich and yummy. All of these different textures and flabors really makes eating the vegetable part of the meal super tastey and at night time just the right kind of heavy.

Using these different variables for a base, you can make the salad taste differently and you can throw in and out any veggies you like. But, it is aheavy veggie dish not a leaf dish-make sense? As a dressing, I plut olive oil lemon garlic powder and pink salt and I often use dried basil.

I dont do this, but, you could throw in seed and nuts on top if you like them as extra flavor and nutrition. I personally love that with mozzarella cheese for a lunch dish.

In any case, I am an OK cook, not the best, but, I am always complimented on my salads and It makes me feel good because I feel like I am giving my family good nutrition each night.

Dr.M