The Joy of a "Kitchen Sink" Salad

I had a different topic scheduled for today, however I just threw together the most amazing "kitchen sink" salad and decided that I just had to share my thoughts...  I do have to give credit where credit is due.  My sister-in-law, Leah, is the queen of "kitchen sink" salads and was my inspiration to branch out from my normal salad ingredients.  In fact, she even makes sandwiches with leftover salad - salad sandwiches.  Add your leftover salad to a whole grain pita or tortilla and you have a fast, fresh and delicious lunch with lots of crunch.

"Kitchen Sink" Salad???
You know the saying, "everything but the kitchen sink", well that is the kind of salad I am talking about.  There are so many things in your fridge, pantry and freezer that you may not even imagine putting into a salad.  Obviously we want to stay away from lots of added sugar, salt and saturated fat, but beyond that the sky is the limit. 


Let me share with you what I had today:
A mix of dark green leaf lettuce, swiss chard (including the beautiful red stems), edemame, carrots cut into ribbons, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, a can of tuna in spring water, sprinkle of crumbled blue cheese, sprinkle of chopped walnuts, a little coarse sea salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper and my favorite dressing "Garlic Expressions - Classic Vinaigrette".

The Joy of a salad like this is that you get a different flavor combination, texture and most importantly mix of nutrients each time.


Salad in a Flash
I often hear people say that they don't like making salads at home because it takes too much time.  It truly can be a lunch, dinner or side dish in a flash with these tips:

• Keep a wide variety of easy to add, no-prep ingredients on hand like grape tomatoes, canned beans (drain and rinse first), chopped walnuts (store in freezer), pre-washed and boxed/bagged lettuce.  Steam a bag of edemame and store in the fridge for salads and a great addition to your kids lunch box as well.
• Make a larger portion than you need for one meal, but not more than you can eat in a few days.  I make a big salad as a side for a dinner (some basic ingredients like cucumbers, carrots, tomatoes and edameme) and then use that as my base for multiple lunch salads or even a dinner later in the week.  You can add other ingredients for specific themes like black beans, roasted red peppers and fajita chicken.
• Buy pre-chopped fresh vegetables and fruit.
• Purchase some store-bought dressings that are low in sugar and don't have any high-fructose corn syrup or trans fat.  A fresh dressing is a nice addition, but may not be practical every time. 

Let Your Imagination Run Wild

There really is no limit to the ingredients you can add to a salad, and don't limit yourself to items that you KNOW you like.  Branch out and try some new things, you just might surprise yourself.

Here is a laundry list of ingredients to add to your "kitchen sink" salad; it is only the tip of the iceberg.  Comment to this blog if you have other great salad ingredients.

• Variety of lettuce (don't limit yourself to romaine or iceberg)
• Spinach
• Kale
• Swiss Chard
• Cabbage
• Bok choy
• Fresh herbs (basil, cilantro, lavender, etc.)

• Avocado
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Bell Peppers (all colors)
• Onions
• Green beans (blanched or fresh)
• Carrots
• Mushrooms
• Asparagus (blanched and chopped)
• Sprouts
• Edemame
• Artichoke hearts
• Corn 
• Jicama
• Radish
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Squash
• Celery
• Sugar snap peas
• Hot peppers

• Kiwi

• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Pomegranite
• Apples
• Pears
• Grapes
• Pineapple
• Melon
• Papaya
• Mango
• Bananas

• Tuna (canned in spring water, grilled, broiled, etc.)
• Chicken (grilled, poached, roasted, etc.)
• Beef
• Salmon
• Smoked salmon
• Turkey breast
• Tofu
• Any flavorful leftover lean protein

• Nuts
• Pasta/Noodles (preferrably whole grain)
• Low-fat croutons
• Dried fruit
• Flax Seed
• Intensely flavored cheeses (blue cheese, Parmesan, sharp cheddar, etc.)
• Hard-boiled egg
• Olive oil

• Vinegar
• Citrus juice
• Thinned hummus

I hope this has inspired you to be a little adventurous on your next trip to the market.  If you have been contemplating joining a co-op but don't know how you would use all of the produce, or don't want to deal with the unknown variety, hopefully this will get you to give it a shot.  I am inspired each time I pick-up my box of delicious goodies.

Here is to fresh, fast, and fantastic food!