Home grown lettuce!
My friend Tabasco grows this amazing bronze arrow lettuce out in her garden…
It has the lovely description in the catalogue as a “rare, long-standing heirloom leaf lettuce that has it all. We feel it is one of the best lettuces in the world!……oak-leaf shaped, bronze-red leaves are tops for appearance and sweet flavor!”
The bronze arrow lettuce grown here in Tabasco’s garden has a mildly bitter flavor, rather than sweet…so maybe it depends on the gardening conditions?
Each winter, Tabasco orders all her lettuce seeds from www.bountifulgardens.org in California & plants them directly into the garden from early spring all through the summer…DELICIOUS!
…but, you can also get yummy greens at the supermarket or a farmer’s market… just try different ones until you find which ones you love!
ingredients:
caonola oil, balsamic vinegar, & salt
tomatoes of any kind
chives
…and greens of any kind…lettuce, baby spinach, etc.
This is my everyday, quick & delicious garden salad!
First, wash the lettuce well…
Then, I usually give each lettuce leaf a shake or 2 after washing & put in the bowl, so there is still a little bit of water to tone down the dressing a little.
Cut & add the tomato.
Just before mealtime, I add the dressing, so the lettuce will still be fresh:
Pour on 2-3 tablespoons canola oil
(note: canola oil is the heart-healthy oil found on the same shelf as all the other oils at the grocery store! It is slightly more expensive–3.99 on sale for the large 48-ounce bottle–but I think it is a great choice!)
4 or 5 dashes of balsamic vinegar
a few shakes of salt
Then stir gently… If it is too oily, or too vinegary, you can add a tiny bit of water to balance things out a bit, or add more oil/vinegar to taste…
I start off on the light side & can always add more!
Sprinkle with chives or any fresh herbs you may have on hand… & that’s it!
Seala loves the salad just like this…And my son LB loves sugar on his salad! So, I sprinkle a teaspoon or 2 of sugar on his portion (& a little on mine, too!) at the very end! Yummy!
Enjoy!
love,
Clay Ball
copy-&-print version below!
Clay Ball’s Fresh Garden Salad
ingredients:
greens of any kind
tomatoes
canola oil
balsamic vinegar
chives or any fresh herbs you may have on hand
salt & sugar (optional)
Wash lettuce well & give a shake or 2, but leave slightly wet.
Wash, dice, and add tomatoes.
Just before mealtime, pour on 2 to 3 tablespoons canola oil, about 5 dashes of balsamic vinegar, & sprinkle with salt.
Stir gently, and adjust for taste. If it has too much oil, vinegar, or salt, add water in small increments to balance out the flavor.
Garnish with chives or other fresh herbs you may have on hand.
For those who like it, sprinkle with a teaspoon or 2 of sugar!
Enjoy!
love,
Clay Ball
“Tabasco standing modestly in her garden”
