I Love Lettuce Season!
I LOVE lettuce season!! Yes, that is a picture of my refrigerator from this morning.
When we were leaving Joe’s Organic Farm in Bixby with our CSA bag of greens (which is massive), a woman in line asked how many people we fed with that bag. “Just two,” I said. Did I mention I love lettuce season?
I never realized lettuce had a season because I didn’t eat salads growing up. I knew it was deer, elk, and turkey season because my father hunted. Blackberry and blueberry season were always favorites. Still is. But lettuce? It wasn’t until I met my husband that salads became a regular dinner routine. And, it appears I’ve been making up for lost time with roughage now that I only eat salads 5 to 6 nights per week. So does my husband. He’ll still stare at me halfway through a bowl and say, “I love salads.”
And how about salad dressing?! A lot of people love a little salad with their dressing. All the choices make it so fun. And the simpler, the better. Straight-up oil and vinegar are always delicious. Most grocery store options contain oils you shouldn’t consume, so proceed with caution.
Canola is the worst. Look for dressings that contain extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil. When making your own dressing, the same rule applies. Last week, I discovered a recipe for an oil-free Greek hummus dressing, which I made using hummus I already had. It’s a new favorite. And again, it’s easy to make. In fact, I’m finding a lot of great dressing recipes on Monkey and Me Kitchen Adventures. You’ll find numerous oil-free and vegan dressings that make salads even better.
I hope when I mention salads, you don’t think I’m eating a giant bowl of leaves. It does play the primary role, but so many extras make a truly delicious dinner. When the spring shelves start filling up with that dark green curly spinach, it’s hard for me to judge how much I will actually be able to eat before it goes bad.
Usually, we’ll just throw together some of our favorite items and be very happy. Other times, we’ll go international. Joey’s favorite salad composition of all time is a Greek with a Caesar in a close second. It’s hard to beat shaved parmesan and homemade sourdough croutons.
I love a blueberry, walnut, or goat cheese mix, or mixed greens topped with broccoli, sprouts, tomatoes, nuts, or quinoa. Wild salmon or chilled shrimp are a great addition to a heartier salad. And, as you probably know, these suggestions don’t even come close to all the possibilities for making an incredible salad.
Get inventive with your salad creations and dive into making your own dressings. If you have any favorites to share, I’d love to hear from you. Send Origin Dental Wellness a message on Facebook or Instagram and share the love—the lettuce love.