Winter Salads
I don’t know about you, but the produce section at my grocery store almost depresses me this time of year. The tomatoes are pink. Cucumbers are tasteless. Nothing is right. So what’s a girl to do? Give up on salads this time of year? On the contrary, it’s time to get more creative.
For starters, consider some variations on the base theme. Try spinach only. Or an arugula/romaine blend. Or if lettuce isn’t your bag, skip it altogether!
Now for the toppings, if you’re like me and can’t stomach those pink tomatoes, try a pack of grape tomatoes. These tiny gems somehow maintain their somewhat tart flavor — even in February! Or if the tart is too much for you, sundried tomatoes are always a great option.
Other flavor-packed favorites of mine include: any kind of olive, hearts of palm (buy these in a jar), marinated artichokes, and ANY kind of cheese. And for another unexpected twist, top your salad with a handful of cooked pasta to really bring it all together. (The pasta works best with oil-based dressings.) In fact while we’re on the topic, now is a great time to try a new salad dressing. While I’m a big fan of saving money at the grocery, salad dressing is worth the splurge. The refrigerated dressings in the produce section really are worth the extra cash. My personal fave? Marie’s Blue Cheese Vinaigrette!
Happy tossing!
February 19th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Marinated artichoke hearts, a spinach blend, and a nice vinaigrette are my favorite salad. EVER. And I had never considered sundried tomatoes on it.. something new to try!
October 23rd, 2007 at 9:56 pm
[...] I tend to like sirloin roast better than chuck roast (which is commonly used for pot roast.) Sirloin is usually a bit cheaper and it’s not as dry. I like the dryness. It seems to have less fat on it, but I haven’t actually researched that. It’s very easy to prepare and it makes GREAT sandwich cold cuts when you’re done with dinner! I’ll be serving mine with a garden salad and brussel sprouts. (My daughter and I both LOVE brussel sprouts, which I prepare in chicken broth — NO butter.) Check out this old post for some of my favorite salad toss-ins! [...]