Salad

Some days nothing but a salad will do.

(Yes, I know - some days only a pizza dripping with melted cheese will do . . .


Or a huge bowl of ice cream,

with chocolate sauce,

whipped cream,

and a cherry on top).


But today, children, we're talking about salad.


This from a gal who is trying to drop a few pounds, so don't be too tough on me, okay?

I love salads.


But they can, I admit, get boring.


I've learned to keep the salad crisper replenished so I can count on crispy lettuce, a cucumber and a sweet onion for basics (tomatoes only during the summer - otherwise, what is the point?).

I'm not a fan of cheese on my salad, but Donald is.  There is always cheese to be found in this house.


And I've learned to keep a few other things on had too, for dress-up.

Strawberries and pecans are nice.  Especially with a raspberry vinaigrette.


Today I went wild and crazy!


Yes.  Yes, I did!


As wild and as crazy, I guess, as you can get within the limitations of salad.


A couple different kinds of lettuce, some thinly sliced chicken breast, cucumber, sweet onion, a few pecans, some pineapple chunks and tossed with a little bit of creamy honey lime cilantro dressing, with a few croutons tossed on top.  (I know, cilantro tastes like soap to many of you.  Thankfully, I'm not one).  

We all know the perils of over-using dressing, it can kill your calorie count just as badly as that aforementioned ice cream, so I try to choose something where I know a little will go a long way.  There are a LOT of really good dressings to be found these days.  Another fave of mine is Panera's Fuji Apple Salad Dressing.

There are also a lot of very good recipes for dressings to be found on-line; such as the creamy honey lime cilantro dressing.


All the makings for Wild and Crazy Salad Making!


(maybe tomorrow I'll give in and have that pizza . . . ).


All while remembering that I have lost 14 pounds since the first of year, with more to go.  

Slowly it goes  -  very slowly it goes . . . 


But.


That's okay.


Slow is good.


In the meantime, I will continue doing my own kind of research on salads and salad dressings.  Who knows where this might lead?!