A Fresh Look at Salad

Overhead view of fresh salad ingredients arranged on a red cutting board on a granite countertop. Items include a container of mixed olives, a red apple, a red onion, a cucumber, grilled chicken chunks in a glass bowl, arugula in a strainer, chopped pecans in a small glass bowl, and a slice of cheese.

When I was younger, I often complained that I didn’t like salad. It wasn't the salad itself that bothered me—I would happily pick out carrots, cucumbers, peppers, and my personal favorite, olives, and eat them. It was the lettuce that I objected to; it just seemed so bland. As a child, we always had iceberg, and it wasn't until I was well into adulthood that I discovered there are different types of lettuce!

It took me longer than it should have to start experimenting with salads. Over the past few years, I’ve really enjoyed mixing arugula and spinach. One of my quick lunch favorites is toasted naan topped with ricotta cheese, red onion, and a spring mix. I absolutely love a good steak salad on flatbread. My current go-to salad features a spinach and arugula base with cucumbers, red onion, fresh mozzarella, olives, apples, pecans, and grilled chicken. I also recently discovered that whisking a little hot honey into my store-bought balsamic dressing enhances the flavor and adds a little spice.

During my time as a Youth Services Librarian, I had the privilege of working with Robbinsville’s hydroponic farm. We held several lettuce tastings at the Robbinsville Branch for fourth graders who were touring the farm. The hydroponic lettuce they grow tastes amazing!

Whether you grow your own lettuce or buy it, we have so many books available to help you create fun and flavorful salads:

Salads Are More Than Leaves: Salads to Get Excited About by Elena Silcock

The Salad Lab: Whisk, Toss, Enjoy!: Recipes for Making Fabulous Salads Every Day by Darlene Schrijver

Seriously Good Salads: Creative Flavor Combinations for Nutritious, Satisfying Meals by Nicky Corbishley

Pizza Night: Deliciously Doable Recipes for Pizza and Salad by Alexandra Stafford

Salad Freak: Recipes to Feed a Healthy Obsession by Jess Damuck

Salad Recipes for Dummies by Wendy Jo Peterson

Around the World in 120 salads: Fresh, Healthy, Delicious by Katie Caldesi

-Michelle, Robbinsville Branch

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