Fresh salads

Have you ever considered growing your own vegetable garden? Gardening is great physical activity that comes with plenty of rewards. And it's ok to start small. Try a salad garden with easy-to-grow vegetables like lettuces, cherry or grape tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots.

You can also pick one salad ingredient, like tomatoes, and use a large planter instead of a traditional garden. Ready to get started? These recipes will inspire you to enjoy your salad garden in deliciously different ways!

Cobb salad with pears

Ingredients:

For the salad:

• 2 canned pear halves
• 6 cups mesclun mix baby greens
• 1/2 tbs Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/3 cups carrots, grated
• 3 tbs walnuts

For the dressing:

• 1/4 cup pear juice
• 1/4 tsp cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp honey
• 1/4 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 dash salt and black pepper
• 1/4 tsp extra virgin olive oil

Instructions:

• For the dressing, mix pear juice, vinegar, honey, mustard and salt and pepper and olive oil in a blender.
• Put mixed greens in large mixing bowl, drizzle dressing over greens and mix together.
• Add remaining chopped pear, walnuts and grated carrots and toss lightly.
• Portion out 1 cup of salad and top with 1/2 tbs grated Parmesan cheese. Makes 6 servings.

Recipe adapted from myplate.gov.

Greek salad

Ingredients:

For the salad:

• 6 romaine lettuces leaves (torn into 1 1/2 inch pieces)
• 1 cucumber (medium, peeled and sliced)
• 1 tomato (medium, chopped)
• 1/2 cup red onion (sliced)
• 1/3 cup feta cheese (crumbled)

For the dressing:

• 2 tbs olive oil (extra-virgin)
• 2 tbs lemon juice
• 1 tsp oregano (dried)
• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Combine lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion and cheese in large serving bowl. Whisk together oil, lemon juice, oregano and salt in small bowl.
• Pour over lettuce mixture and toss until coated, then serve. Makes 6 servings.

Recipe adapted from myplate.gov.

Pear salad

Ingredients:

For the salad:

• 2 cups salad greens
• 1/4 cup sliced tomato
• 1/4 cup sliced carrots
• 1/4 cup sliced cucumbers
• 1/4 cup green beans
• 1 cup canned pears, drained and chopped
• 2 tbs walnuts
• 2 tbs raisins

For the dressing:

• 1 1/2 tsp white vinegar
• 1/4 cup non-fat plain yogurt
• 1 tbs orange juice

Instructions:

• Put salad greens, chopped vegetables, pears, nuts and raisins in a large salad bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, yogurt and orange juice to prepare dressing.
• Stir dressing into salad mix and serve. Makes 4 servings.

Recipe adapted from myplate.gov.

Next steps:

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