This is an improvisational recipe that I created years ago when I first started living on my own. I simply blend all my favorite salad ingredients and live off of this for a few days. I love that this salad looks different every time I make it and allows ample room for creativity.

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: N/A

Ingredients:

• 1 head of fresh romaine lettuce or 1 bag of pre-washed romaine lettuce. *
• 1 carrot (you may substitute for shredded carrots if short on time)
• 1 red pepper
• 1 cucumber
• 1 avocado
• 1 pack of cherry tomatoes
• Feta cheese or mozzarella balls
• Shaved parmasan cheese
• Dried cranberries
• Optional: cilantro, chickpeas, and/or tabouli

*You can use mixed greens if you like, but I always make sure there is some romaine.

Instructions:

• Place lettuce in bottom of large bowl.
• Add other ingredients. If preparing for company, I like to arrange the cucumbers, avocados, cherry tomatoes, and red peppers in fun designs on top of the lettuce. If you are going for a Christmas theme, use both red and green peppers.

Serving Suggestions:

• Serve with a dinner entrée or add tuna fish/chicken salad/sardines or other type of lean protein for a deliciously healthy lunch.
• You can serve with any type of dressing you like, but I usually eat this salad with olive oil which is especially good if you add sardines.

Chef’s Tips:

• If stored dry (without dressing), this salad stays good in the refrigerator for a couple days.
• Double the recipe if preparing for a large gathering.