Fresh Summer Salad

Summer is a wonderful time to cook and have the Midland Downton Farmer's Market next door makes it even better, especially when the tomatoes are abundant and the melons arrive. Combining those two elements is refreshing and classic, but I upped the ante by adding cotija cheese that I warmed in a nonstick pan, fresh oregano and white balsamic vinegar plus some special olive oil to create a very satisfying dinner salad. The combination is delicious as the saltiness of the fresh cheese highlights the acid of the tomatoes and the sweetness of the melon. I almost scattered pepitas over the top, but with a tendency to add them to everything, I showed a little restraint. 

Winter Salads

During the winter, we all tend to eat slightly richer dishes: pastas, casseroles and other baked things. Especially during the holidays! These are comforting dishes that help us make it through the dark days, but they also need something light and refreshing to accompany them during a time when fresh produce can be expensive or unappealing.  A crisp winter salad is just the thing to perk up those tired taste buds and provide a vibrant counterpoint to all of that yummy winter fare.  Creating a satisfying winter salad is easy, think: crunchy, cruciferous vegetables; rich, earthy nuts; and the bright notes of all the winter citrus.  Keep it simple, choosing the best from each category that you can find and perhaps even cooking or roasting some of your ingredients for a little variety.  A salad doesn't have to be just lettuce and some soupy dressing, it can be any combination of things that are fresh, delicious and inspiring. 

Here are three of my favorites: 

Salad Greens with Citrus Vinaigrette
A citrus vinaigrette like this can be used in a variety of ways besides just salad greens: try sliced Persian cucumbers, steamed cauliflower and slivers of olives with almonds, or little pastas, cherry tomatoes and little broccoli florets.  Kale!

 Dama Bianca (The White Lady)
This classic Italian salad combines three ingredients whose sum is greater than their parts: fennel, sliced very thin; celery hearts and leaves; and the freshest mozzarella you can buy.  Instead of slicing the cheese, just shred it with your hands to add a rustic touch and great textural variation. 

Green Apple and Celery Salad with Walnuts (or Pecans!) and Mustard Vinaigrette
Celery...again?  Yes, but this time combined with crunch, sweet Granny Smith apples and nuts.  The recipe calls for walnuts, but I have delicious pecans in the freezer and used those instead.  To perfection!

Don't let your salad bowl go empty just because it's winter!