by Gina Lawton

Created on: July 06, 2010

Summer is here, and at our home, that means salad! I'm fortunate that everyone in my household loves crisp greens and the goodies that transform simple lettuce or spinach into a salad. While we go for the more exotic occasionally, usually our salads are built around basic greens: lettuce, spinach, or kale. 

To avoid the monotony that often accompanies green salads, I've learned a few basic tricks that jazz them up and take them from a supporting role to the main stage in our meals. Each of the following recipes begins with greens. Choose your favorite; right now, that means romaine lettuce with my crew. Also know that the following are "lunch" size recipes for five people.

Chopped Green Salad:

1 head romaine, chopped into bite-size pieces

1 large cucumber, chunked

2-3 stalks celery, chopped coarsely

1 zucchini, chunked

Chopped green olives (optional, and to taste)

Toss the above ingredients, then choose one or more of the following to add extra crunch:

A couple handfuls of dry roasted peanuts

Store-bought sliced and spiced almonds

Left-over snack mix, crushed slightly (cheddar flavor is wonderful!)

Serve with your favorite salad dressing - currently the hubby and younger kids choose fresh mixed Ranch, while my teenage daughter and I enjoy home made Italian).

Another easy thing to do with greens is to add your favorite "meat" spread on top of a gathering of them. For this, I usually chop a head of romaine, and throw in some fresh spinach. Then:

Summer Tuna Salad:

2 cans (6 oz.) tuna, packed in water, drained well

2/3 C. mayonnaise

1/4 C. dill relish

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

garlic salt to taste

juice from 1/2 lemon

Mix all ingredients, and serve them on a bed of the above greens.

Or, for the poultry lover:

Curry Chicken Salad:

2 large cans shredded chicken, drained well

3/4 C. mayonnaise

1/4 C. prepared ranch dressing

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

1/4 t. garlic powder

1/4 - 1/2 t. red curry powder (depends on how much curry taste you like. Also, you can add different curries - they each add their own distinct flavor and some give more heat than others).

Mix all ingredients together, and serve them on a bed of the above greens.

The possibilities are endless if you have a few crunchy greens and some imagination! Remember to keep it simple, keep it fresh, and don't be afraid to experiment. You might discover a new favorite, gorgeous green salad of your own!

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