| Plants from your garden will be maturing | | | | chicken or a starch, perhaps diced |
| very soon leaving you with an abundance | | | | potatoes or chick peas to make a |
| of fresh foods for great culinary uses | | | | complete meal. |
| like Tomato with Avocado salad or a | | | | **A Crunchy Green Chinese Salad** |
| Greek Salad with a hummus recipe for | | | | For your green Chinese salad you will |
| dipping pita bread. When your vegetable | | | | need 1 cup of Chinese salad leaves or |
| garden starts to produce for your table, | | | | any vegetable garden salad makings you |
| you should have recipes using fresh | | | | have grown, or you have on hand. Chop |
| herbs for an herb dressing, and | | | | one green pepper with the ribs removed, |
| vegetables on hand to use them in the | | | | 3 tablespoons of lovage or fresh |
| most imaginative ways. Here are some | | | | spearmint, finely diced celery and |
| recipes to give you maximum enjoyment of | | | | spring onions or ramps sliced |
| great salads and salad dressings. Be | | | | diagonally. Mix together. |
| creative, use these as just examples and | | | | Your salad dressing will be a mayonnaise |
| add a few personal touches, consider | | | | based mixture. Put four tablespoons of |
| your vegetable garden as a living | | | | mayonnaise into a screw top jar with 2 |
| cuisine capable of any number of new | | | | tablespoons of orange juice, the grated |
| twists. | | | | rind of an orange, 2 tablespoons of |
| When your tomatoes start to give up | | | | fresh chopped parsley, 1 teaspoon of sea |
| dozens of their fruit give some away, | | | | salt and 2 cloves of garlic finely |
| but better yet here are some recipes, an | | | | chopped. Shake vigorously and chill for |
| especially super one for Tomato with | | | | several hours before serving. Put a |
| Avocado salad, that you can use for your | | | | pretty garnish on each plate and you |
| family or a weekend get together with | | | | have a perfect summer meal. |
| neighbours and friends. | | | | **A Cool Greek Salad With Feta Cheese |
| ** ~Dress Up~ your Tomatoes with an Herb | | | | And Pitas With Hummus** |
| Dressing**: | | | | What is more refreshing on a hot summer |
| Use three or four of your fresh | | | | day than a cool Greek Salad? Thinly |
| tomatoes, peel them if you wish and | | | | slice a cucumber from your garden patch, |
| slice them any thickness you want. Then | | | | chop your tomatoes coarsely, and toss |
| slice some Red Onion or Vidalia Onions | | | | together with 1/2 to 1 cup of feta |
| to place on top. Snip some of your fresh | | | | cheese (Greek cheese found in your dairy |
| herbs like, basil and oregano. In a | | | | aisle), and a dozen or so of Greek black |
| screw top jar, add ¼ cup of olive oil | | | | olives. You will want to dress this |
| or vegetable oil (or use half of each | | | | simply with 1 clove of garlic chopped |
| for flavour.) Then drizzle in 2 | | | | finely, 3 tablespoons of your fresh |
| tablespoons of a flavoured vinegar | | | | basil also finely chopped, 1 tablespoon |
| (balsamic, tarragon, garlic, sherry, or | | | | each of lemon juice and olive oil (use |
| raspberry - change it up for variety). | | | | only olive oil here), and some grinds of |
| Add your fresh herbs. Let the flavours | | | | black pepper. Mix everything well and |
| blend for about 1-2 hours before using, | | | | serve the salad on arranged beds of |
| and shake well before adding to the | | | | sprouts. Serve with hot crusty bread or |
| salad. Next, sprinkle salt and pepper | | | | for real treat heat some pita rounds and |
| onto the tomatoes and dress with your | | | | serve the salad with warm pita quarters |
| Herb salad dressing. Here again, get | | | | and the following hummus recipe. |
| creative, use fresh sliced mozzarella or | | | | Hummus Recipe: |
| grated parmesan on the tomato salad for | | | | 1 12-oz can garbanzo beans |
| another variation in using your plants | | | | 1 clove garlic |
| from your garden. | | | | 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil |
| You could use tarragon dressing to make | | | | 2-3 tbsp tahini sauce (sesame paste) |
| the tomato salad a little different. Use | | | | found in ethnic sections or gourmet |
| the same basic ingredients but from your | | | | storesjuice of 1 small lemon |
| kitchen garden substitute one tablespoon | | | | ½ tsp salt |
| tarragon leaves and 2 teaspoons of | | | | Drain 1/3 of the water from the can of |
| snipped chives for the basil and | | | | garbanzo beans into a small bowl. Set |
| oregano. Here you should only use | | | | aside for later use. In a blender, mix |
| tarragon vinegar. | | | | together the garbanzo beans with the |
| Whichever herbs you choose, garnish the | | | | remaining can water and the rest of the |
| plate with fresh sprigs of the herb for | | | | ingredients. Blend for 1-2 minutes until |
| added interest and colour. | | | | a smooth, slightly fluid paste is |
| **A Chinese Tomato With Avocado Salad** | | | | formed. If desired, add small amount of |
| For an entirely different taste and | | | | the saved can water and blend to create |
| presentation try making a Tomato with | | | | a more fluid consistency. |
| Avocado salad with five spice Chinese | | | | **A Lovely Lentil Salad With Vegetables |
| powder. You won't be growing the Chinese | | | | From Your Gardens** |
| powder but you can find it in most | | | | And our last summer salad will use fresh |
| grocery stores. Spices have the power to | | | | lentil sprouts and veggies from your |
| create subtle or powerful flavours and | | | | vegetable garden. |
| this recipe using the Chinese powder | | | | You will need 1 ½ cups of fresh lentil |
| will prove it. | | | | sprouts, one large red pepper diced with |
| First peel and slice about 4 tomatoes. | | | | ribs removed, ½ cup of broccoli and |
| Do the same to two ripe avocados. You | | | | cauliflower flowerets each, and 1/2 cup |
| can add some cucumber slices and make a | | | | of sliced mushrooms of your choice. You |
| bed for the salad out of romaine leaves | | | | will want a dressing with kick so, in |
| or any leaves you have grown in your | | | | your screw top jar mix 2 tablespoons of |
| vegetable gardens. | | | | sesame oil, 2 tablespoons of cider |
| After you have prepared the salad make | | | | vinegar, 1 tablespoon of freshly grated |
| the salad dressing with ½ of cup of | | | | ginger, 2 tablespoons of orange juice |
| olive or vegetable oil (or half of | | | | and 1 teaspoon of soy sauce. Shake the |
| both). Use two tablespoons or tarragon | | | | dressing until well combined then pour |
| or white vinegar. Add 1 teaspoon of | | | | over the salad. This is a perfect salad |
| Chinese five spice powder, a tablespoon | | | | to add seeds or nuts to for additional |
| of finely chopped basil, ½ teaspoon of | | | | protein. |
| both lemon juice and salt, mash a clove | | | | So there you have five great summer |
| of garlic, a pinch of dry mustard and | | | | salads to help you use plants from your |
| black pepper and add it to your screw | | | | garden. Don't forget that if you are |
| top jar with all the other ingredients. | | | | growing any edible flowers, like |
| Mix well and refrigerate at least two | | | | nasturtiums, to add them to your |
| hours before serving over the salad. | | | | garnish. Use your imagination and the |
| Here again use fresh herbs or the tomato | | | | different plants from your garden for an |
| peel twirled into a rose shape for | | | | unending, delicious, living cuisine. |
| garnishing the plate. | | | | Bon Appetit and Happy Gardening! |
| **A Green Chinese Salad, Greek Salad or | | | | Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights |
| Lentil Salad With Vegetables** | | | | Reserved. |
| Let's switch gears from tomato salads to | | | | This article may be distributed freely |
| a Green Salad, a Greek Salad and a | | | | on your website and in your ezines, as |
| Lentil Salad with Vegetables. The first | | | | long as this entire article, copyright |
| is a scrumptious crunchy green salad | | | | notice, links and the resource box are |
| which can be paired with a protein like | | | | unchanged. |
| chopped eggs or slices of grilled | | | | |