Garden, Greens, and Salad

Salads are delicious, however they can be very bland and boring. Salad isn't exactly something that everyone loves eating. I have experimented and found my favorite salad recipe. Please note that you can substitute for what is available in your region. Please modify for food allergies. Enjoy!

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Good Greens:
Whenever making a salad please make sure to choose the freshest greens possible. If you are growing the greens yourself then I recommend picking them right before the salad curation. If you must purchase the greens at the local supermarket make sure that they look fresh, no bad smells, and they are colorful not brown. Greens should not look soggy or brown when picking and choosing. Leaves should be green, crunchy, and thick.

Organic or Not?
Foods at the grocery store marked organic have less pesticides put on them. When shopping at the local supermarket you may notice the produce section has different labels. When purchasing a box of strawberries one box may say organic and the other box says nothing. Chances are, the box not marked organic had pesticides or modification done to it before they reached the store. Choosing Organic is safer than risking the unmarked box. 

When choosing produce look for the USDA logo that says 'USDA Organic'. Another sticker to look for is the Non GMO Project logo. Their logo is the most reliable because they make sure everything complies with the organic standards. In case that you don't know what that looks like, look for an orange butterfly on a piece of grass. That is the Non GMO Project logo. They certify organic products.  
Try to purchase as organically as possible. If you can grow the food that is even better. Start small by choosing organic. 

Once you have all of the ingredients necessary have fun trying out this recipe! Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1) Mixed green salad mixture
If you're shopping, mixed greens or spring salad would taste the best. I also recommend adding a variety of lettuce into my salads. My favourite has a combination of beet leaves, arugula, red leaf lettuce, spinach, etc. The more variety the merrier. Variety comes more vitamins as well. Incorporate  colors. 

2) Carrots
I discourage using baby carrots unless absolutely necessary. Whole, organic carrots taste a lot better. Again, the closer that you can get to the ground is the best option. Baby carrots have been treated with chemicals, processed, and cut. Whereas, if you purchase a whole bundle of carrots that is closer to the ground than a processing facility. 

3) Cucumbers
Virtually zero calories, cucumbers pose as a great filler for a salad. Try to obtain a whole cucumber that hasn't been pre cut. 

4) Favorite salad dressing or BBQ Sauce
It all depends on preference for the sauce because this salad can be sweet, sour, or spicy. If you must purchase sauce be cautious of what is in it. I prefer using a homemade sweet honey BBQ sauce. 

5) Corn
I love this salad because it offers a diverse table of opportunities. The corn can be frozen or barely thawed. I prefer frozen corn because it adds an interesting texture to the salad. However, make sure that the corn you are purchasing is non GMO. I purchase my corn from a farmers market, cut it off the cob, and freeze it. 

6) Granola
If you choose to add granola, it adds crunch. I have found that the best option for granola is the fruity flavor. My personal favorite is vanilla blueberry. Be careful with granola due to food allergies. Granola should be non GMO certified with no artificial flavoring. or ingredients. I prefer the brand Kind. 

7) Optional; Cranberries, peas, eggs, chicken, beef, cashews, bell peppers, cheese, olives, mushrooms, avocado, tomatoes, strawberries, sprouts, beets, radish, celery, onion, etc. 

This is my favorite salad recipe that I have created so far. However, feel free to mix and match, add flavors, textures, sweet, salty, or however you love it. Salads don't have to be a food prison, they are a food paradise. Salad possibilities are really endless. Follow my recipe and add a few extras. Don't ever be afraid to venture out. If you have food allergies to an ingredient just simply switch it with something else. I assure you that It will taste just as good.

Measurements:
Salads allow for the opportunity to add whatever is desired. Modify the measurements and find what is necessary for you or the amount of people being served. 

Change ingredients and measurements as desired.

1) 2 cups - Mixed Greens (spinach, arugula, lettuce, ice-berg lettuce, etc.)
2) 2 Medium sized Carrots
3) 1/2 Medium Cucumber
4) Drizzle Favorite Salad Dressing or BBQ Sauce (Honey is an interesting option too)
5) 1/2 Cup of Frozen Corn
6) Sprinkle Craisins, raisins, or croutons on top
7) Some of your favorite granola. I used a plain granola. (Adds a nice crunch)
8) Half of one bell pepper

Wash ProduceWhenever preparing food you should always wash the workspace and your hands. When preparing a salad the same rule applies, but also includes the salad ingredients. Washing helps get bugs, dirt, or some bacteria off the produce. 

Cut and Peel:
Cut and peel produce like carrots and cucumbers after washing. Feel free to cut however desired. 

Arrange:
Place salad ingredients according to how you want them. I recommend starting with the lettuce mix working my way up by how large the cuts are. 

Enjoy:
Make sure to sit down and actually enjoy the salad. Observe all of the colors, that's at least what mesmerizes my eyes. 

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Salad is all about creativity and curation. Having fun while picking out ingredients and being creative while making it is what counts. In my mind, salads are a method of art in a sense that you are using food to create something colorful, creative, and certainly delicious.
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Eating healthy should be fun and delicious. This salad is meant to be a prominently sweet salad. Salads should be a variety of flavors and this one shines through on that one. Experiment around with different sauces, toppings, and salad bases. There are so many combinations and flavor mixtures.