I’ve always been a salad lover, no matter the season, but as the temperatures rise and the days grow longer, I find myself craving salads even more.
There’s just something special about a fresh salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes, all topped with your own homemade dressing, that makes a hot summer day feel even more enjoyable.
At times, I make my own salad dressing from olive oil, balsamic or red wine vinegar, and the herbs and spices I have in my pantry. Other times, I love to sample the newest salad dressings and all-time favorites.
Different types of lettuce are key to the taste. My personal finds are that arugula pairs best with cranberries and walnuts, while romaine or baby lettuce pairs best with caramelized onions, sun-dried tomatoes, and a balsamic-citrus blend.
One of my favorite things about a salad is that its taste and texture can be adjusted with a drop of oil, a splash of vinegar, a spice, or a seasoning; even if it’s premade, you can always change it up. Whatever flavor you’re in the mood for, you can accommodate it with the ingredients of your salad.
I began eating salads at a very young age. My mom would prepare homemade meals for us each day. We would begin with a small bowl of cantaloupe, salad with her homemade dressing, and then our main entree with a meat and a vegetable. I still crave my mother’s salad dressing, and I will make it at times. That early introduction to salads and dressings really became the foundation for my love of salads.
Now that my daughter is 6 1/2 years old, I’ve been trying to introduce different vegetables and salads. My taste is a bit spicy and very flavorful. My daughter, on the other hand, likes things plain and definitely not spicy; the only sauce she uses is ketchup, and at times a creamy vodka sauce on her pasta.
I’ve been trying to encourage her to sample a variety of salads to open up her palate. I have not been successful; however, a few of her friends have been loving Caesar salads. She is almost ready even to accept the idea that a salad could be in her future.
I encourage my daughter to be open-minded about her food choices and also teach her that sometimes, when we’re younger, our taste buds don’t enjoy or can’t handle certain flavors. As we get older, that can change.
I often tell the story that throughout my years, I would never drink coffee or even think about eating sushi. However, that all changed when I began my first office internship, where I was introduced to the coffee maker at 3 p.m. That is when I realized why so many people drank coffee and started to acquire a taste for it. At this point in my life, I drink one cup of coffee a day first thing in the morning, and it satisfies my coffee craving.
Another food that has become one of my favorites is sushi. I didn’t start eating sushi until about ten years ago, and I began cautiously with just California rolls. Over time, my palate has expanded, and now I enjoy a wide variety of sushi, including yellowtail, scallion, and crab, as well as adventurous options like tuna or yellowtail sushi pizza. If you’ve never tried sushi pizza, it’s nothing like a traditional pizza; it’s a creative, delicious dish I highly recommend everyone experience at least once.
I’ll admit, I’ve tried many times to get my daughter to take even a small bite of sushi, and so far, I haven’t had much success. At this moment, introducing her to salads and vegetables has been a much more achievable goal.
