Layout Image
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Box
  • Contact

Summer Salads

By Cathy · June 24th, 2011

Unless you’ve had your head under a rock lately, I bet you’ve heard about the farm to table philosophy of food.  Buzz words are farmer’s market, eating local, organic, carbon footprint, artesian methods, heirloom seeds, real food, seasonal harvest, urban gardens, CSA(community supported agriculture), responsible, sustainably grown…the list goes on.  There have been books and books written about the health, environmental, geo-political and economic benefits of the movement.  I’ll let the big dogs take on these issues.  My lil o’blog has this to say:  Do it because it tastes better.  Way better.  Healthier too – for both my family and the environment.  It’s how we like to roll at our house.

My husband grew up on a farm so we do get a giggle once in a while about all the hoopla.  Ummmm…isn’t this how everybody ate a generation or two ago?  It’s sad as a country we got so far away from our roots, but I am very happy the pendulum is finally swinging back and gaining momentum too.

My feelings on this whole topic solidified a few years back.  We spent a week in France at our wonderful friends Marc and LoLo’s Loire Valley estate which includes a vineyard and winery.  (In case you were wondering – one of the many examples as to why I call my blog “just pinch me”).  This is a picture of my friend Carrie and I with Lolo on the patio at her villa.

When we arrived at the villa Lolo served us the simplest, most amazing al fresco lunch on the patio.  She had visited the local farmer’s market that morning, grabbed some lettuce and baby tomatoes, fruit, bread and cheese.  She made a vinaigrette with olive oil, vinegar, salt & pepper and opened a bottle of their winery’s very own Chenin Blanc.

I could eat like this every single meal the rest of my life.  What a moment.

This year I got adventurous and planted a small herb garden on the patio.  I planted lots of arugula lettuce along with herbs like basil, italian parsley, oregano, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, tarragon, marjoram, dill and mint.  I wish I had planted much, much more lettuce – next year for sure.

We’ve had so much fun harvesting the arugula for salads, chopping up our farmer’s market seasonal vegetables, adding our fresh herbs and dressing the salad with a simple homemade vinaigrette.  Add some bread and cheese or grilled chicken or fish and you’ve got a memorable meal.

My two favorite summer salad dressings have already been posted on my blog.  Check out the white balsamic vinaigrette in my strawberry salad post or lemon dressing in my lemony orzo and spinach post.  Don’t know where to find a farmer’s market?  Check out the incredible website localharvest.org. to find one near you.  Please send me your comments – I’d love to know if I have inspired any Farmer’s Market visits.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
Be Sociable, Share!
  • Tweet
Categories : Salads
Tags : al fresco, eating local, farm to table, herb garden, summer salads, vinaigrette

Comments

  1. Carrie says:
    June 24, 2011 at 3:35 pm

    Hi Cathy!

    I love the blog. I jpicked a huge flat of strawberries this morning and just froze half for winter smoothies and made a strawberry and rhubarb pie (rhubarb from my garden). Love what is fresh and in season! See you 7-15! Xo. Carrie

    Reply
    • just pinch me says:
      June 24, 2011 at 10:24 pm

      Can’t wait to see you too!

      Reply
  2. Patti Mikita says:
    June 26, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    Cathy,

    I am loving your blog! I have tried a few of the recipes and they have all been awesome. I still use the vinaigrette recipe on a weekly basis that you wrote out for me years ago! Hope to see you in Mooresville or places beyond!

    Patti

    Reply
    • just pinch me says:
      June 26, 2011 at 3:55 pm

      Thanks so much Patti!! Miss you!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I dish up great simple recipes made from scratch using the freshest and tastiest ingredients. Sometimes I serve a little inspiration on the side. Meander around a bit and enjoy your time here. If you like, click on the RSS button or email link below to subscribe to my blog and receive updates whenever I post new recipe.

       

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Recent Posts

  • Southern Living’s Green Chile Corn Pudding
  • Made From Scratch Green Bean Casserole
  • Cauliflower Fried “Rice”
  • Coconut Curry Chicken Breast
  • French Lemon Yogurt Cake

Categories

  • Asian Ispired
  • Baking
  • Breakfast & Brunch
  • Desserts
  • Fish & Shellfish
  • Italian
  • Meat Dishes
  • Poultry Dishes
  • Salads
  • Sides
  • Soup & Sandwiches
  • Tex-Mex
  • Uncategorized

Grab My Button


Just Pinch Me
Copyright © 2021 All Rights Reserved
iThemes Builder by iThemes
Powered by WordPress