Re-inventing Salad

[no_hypocrisy]

The salads taste so much better in the summer when I buy lettuce, green bell peppers, little cherry tomatoes, etc. at farm stands, grown locally. There's a certain earthiness that just isn't present when they're out of season. With just a splash of vinaigrette dressing, I don't need more.

[dem in texas]

1. The closer you get to "just Picked" the better all fruit and vegetables taste.

we shop at our local farmer's markets year round. Used to have my own year round garden until I got too old to tend it.

[Phentex]

2. My favorite salads are...

the ones somebody else makes!

But I do love the fresh veggies you get this time of the year. When it's hot like this, I prefer to eat a nice cold salad.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. that is so funny - think the exact same thing. No matter how hard I try

what I buy....they always taste better in a restaurant.

one thing I haven't mastered is getting whatever lettuce to be crispy. someone told me to put it in hot water then ice water (done in restaurants) but I haven't tried yet.

[PennyK]

3. I've missed salads...and all fresh produce so much

I did chemotherapy this year and it really messed up my whole digestive system. I had to eat like an old lady! One thing that saved me was my homemade chicken soup...when I could eat it, I could feel my whole body gaining strength.
Now it's OVER, and I'm slowly re-introducing fruits and vegetables back into my meals. A strawberry here and there, and last night I had some broccoli. Tonight green beans. I'm going to Target today, and will get some of the Little Gems lettuce to try my first salad in five months!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

6. Oh so sorry you had to go through that !! Ditto on the chicken soup

my grandma taught me how to make and have been making for years. I agree - literally feel better after.

[Galileo126]

4. I really miss softball-sized tomatoes

One slice, and you've got a tomato sandwich. (a dab of mayo, S+P, and that's it.)

We used to go to the rural side of town (in RI), stop at one of the "honor system" stands [take the veggies, leave the money] and get some really great tomatoes. And bell peppers, and sweet onions, and... well, you know.

<sigh>

Now I'm on the Left Coast, and veggies for salad seem bland and commercial. Ubiquitous, but still bland. Ho-hum.

Oy.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. What's up with that? grew up in CT and I can still remember the

wonderful taste and smell of a summer tomato from the garden. I am surprised you can't find in west - when we were there had beautiful tomatoes.

Another thing is now mass produced tomatoes have that big white hard core in center. Never remember that from the past.

[SheilaT]

8. Next year, I promise,

I will grow tomatoes in my back yard.

This summer I had the yard landscaped, got rid of the weeds, planted some plants, and so on. I live in New Mexico, so I'm dealing with a desert kind of climate.

I totally adore home grown tomatoes, and I want to grow my own. Next year, I promise.