TEMPT MY TUMMY TUESDAY

Hey, y'all. IT'S TUESDAY!

Tuesdays are a fun day to post. My friend, Lisa, hosts a blog-carnival in which many link up to share recipes, kitchen tips and hints. It's a lot of fun. Go on over and link up.

My entry is:

THE BIG SALAD

So many people discount the regular tossed salad. I can understand why. I can remember going to the diner and asking for a dinner salad. All you got was so NOT green, wilted lettuce, with a chunk or 2 of green tomato and a big glop of greasy salad dressing. Yum.....NOT!

If you went to a nice restaurant, you got kind of green lettuce (always iceberg), some pink tomatoes, bacon bits and croutons.....and a big glop of greasy salad dressing.

Tossed salad is easy to throw together and is wonderful to eat. It is an easy way to get in your full-serving of fruits and vegetables. Every time I take this to a function, it is really popular.

The beauty of this recipe is that you can add or NOT add whatever you want. You can add pretty much anything. The vegetables that you have only ever had cooked? Give 'em a try raw and in the salad.

Here is what I put in my BIG salad:

iceberg lettuce

red leaf lettuce

baby greens (including arugula, spinach, frisee, radicchio)

Swiss chard

cherry or grape tomatoes

sweet red peppers, yellow peppers, green peppers

thinly sliced red onion

summer squash (cut into rounds, then quartered)

zucchini (cut into rounds, then quartered)

broccoli

cauliflower

sugar snap peas

carrots

cucumbers

*to the side*

cheese crumbles

bacon (real....not the fake crap)

croutons

sunflower seeds

pumpkin seeds

toasted pecans

craisins

avocado

Dressing:

honey mustard (especially good if you add craisins)

homemade ranch

balsamic vinaigrette (very easy to make)

There you go! (I apologize for not having a picture of my salad....it is on hubby's computer....HONEY? Would you email me those pics? I will update when I have them.)

In the summer, I love to make a big batch of this and store it in a large container. (Be sure to put a paper towel in the bowl.) If it is prepared, I'm more likely to eat a heap with my meals.

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I guess I don't have too many readers to justify a drawing, so let me just remind you of the books I have left. If you haven't been notified of one (see yesterday's post) please let me know what you want. First come, first serve.

365 Foods Kids Love

The New Woman's Day Cookbook

Necessities and Temptations

Vegetables

Dear Daughter

The Lady and Sons

Chili Cookbook

many magazines (Cook's Illustrated and Cook's Country)