just one huge bowl of cut lettuce . . . giving the rest away to friends and family!
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One of the very first vegetables that we enjoy is loose leaf lettuce!
You know the kind that you find in healthy grocery stores such as Whole Foods or The Fresh Market . . . where the lettuce is on display in loose form and not in some bag sprayed with preservatives.
Well not even these stores can get fresher than what I cut straight out of our gardens!
And the aroma of the variety of lettuce just captures your attention as the garden shears cut through the stems.
The sweet taste and aroma of spring!
Oh so easy too . . . and ready in 3 weeks!
Gardening is such a gift AND miracle. Something I’m so glad that we taught our children, who now enjoy gardening and fresh, healthy food!
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my raised bed of 4 lettuce varieties is EXPLODING!
Loose leaf lettuce ia any variety of lettuce that doesn’t have a compact head form (thus the term ‘loose’ leaf). Their flavor has a delicate flavor unlike a regular head of lettuce that has minimal flavor.
If you don’t have the ability to garden at home, this is the type of lettuce that usually appears the earliest in local farmers’ markets. They can be started from seed at an early time because they can withstand some of the earlier, colder days and nights at the beginning of spring.
dress lettuce with vinaigrette
Dress loose leaf lettuce with very light olive oil and vinegar based vinaigrettes . . . never use heavy and/or creamy dressings on this variety of lettuce. And also never, ever used bottled dressings that have loads of preservatives included that can’t be pronounced!
My vinaigrettes are always 1 measurement of olive oil to ⅓ measurement of vinegar (for this salad, I used Balsamic vinegar — Aceto di Balsamico in Italian). I also enjoy using a high quality red wine vinegar too. So for an example, use 1 cup olive oil to ⅓ cup vinegar. It all depends on how many people you are serving to increase or decrease this formula.
Then I slice about 10 – 12 green onions and toss those in the lettuce.
With just a dusting sprinkle of freshly cracked sea salt and black pepper to taste, this salad is complete!
If you want to really eat like a humble Italian peasant, place a large amount of the loose leaf salad between two slices of bread. It is so simple, so easy, and so delicious!
layer lettuce salad on top of bread
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delicious simplicity!
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Velva says
May 17, 2015 at 8:33 PMMy lettuces are done for the season 🙂 Lettuces are a beautiful experience in the garden.
Roz says
July 16, 2015 at 7:18 PMI’m missing fresh lettuce right now in these scorching hot temps, Velva! How’s your garden coming along in this heat?
Roz
judee@ Gluten Free A-Z Blog says
May 17, 2015 at 10:27 PMRoz,
Your lettuce beds look fabulous ,and I can just imagine how wonderful that fresh salad tastes, I can’t garden where I live and I miss it, but I do join a CSA and get fresh organic produce.
Roz says
July 16, 2015 at 7:26 PMI think that it is is absolutely wonderful that you support a local CSA, Judee! The time will come when I can no longer garden (physically) and hope to do the same as you!
Hoping that your summer has been full of sunlight and joy,
Roz
Mindy says
May 18, 2015 at 12:13 AMBeautiful! We were just reminiscing this weekend about my grandma’s lettuce and green onion salad she always served. With Grandma’s Dressing, of course! My sister and I always have a bottle in the fridge. Oil, vinegar, and a bit of sugar. Lots of memories in that bottle.
Roz says
July 16, 2015 at 7:43 PMOh my, Mindy! There are not that many people who share this simple food memory! One of the best and most delicious in all its simplicity, in my opinion.
I hope that you are having a beautiful and delicious summer!
Hugs,
Roz
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
May 18, 2015 at 5:23 AMI just harvested some Asian salad leaves and going to make a salad for the dinner today too. You have a HUGE garden, Roz.
Roz says
July 16, 2015 at 7:31 PMHi Angie,
You’re just so sweet! Actually this year, my garden is smaller than ever due to my mother’s deteriorating health and the time we needed to spend attending to her needs. Maybe next spring, she will smile on us and help us have a more bountiful garden.
Hope your summer has been as delightful as you!
Roz
Larry says
May 18, 2015 at 9:13 AMI’ve never had a salad sandwich but it looks delicious.
Roz says
July 16, 2015 at 11:03 PMLarry, sorry for getting back to you so late; so many things happening at my end and i’m just coming up for air . . . sinking every now and then though. A salad sammie is nothing more tha lettuce between bread soaked with the vinaigrette, so if you’re one who likes to ‘mop up’ sauces or dressings, than you’ll enjoy this very simple, humble, poor man’s food!
Roz
Ilaria says
May 19, 2015 at 7:18 AMWonderful… directly coming from your garden. Really the maximum.
I’m still waiting for the first salad coming from my father garder.
Roz says
July 16, 2015 at 10:48 PMCiao Ilaria, Mi dispiace for replying so late. My mother became very ill since Aprile and I was unable to reply fast to you. I hope that you enjoyed the lettuce and vegetables from your beloved father’s garden. Now that it is so hot, I would love a garden-fresh salad!
Love,
Roz
Ciao Chow Linda says
May 19, 2015 at 10:52 PMYour garden looks fabulous, Roz and there’s nothing so delicious as a plain old garden lettuce salad. I’ve been able tot harvest mine once and there’s plenty more to go. I think I have the same lettuce-shaped green dish you have too.
Roz says
July 17, 2015 at 3:20 PMIt’s always nice to know that great minds think alike . . . when it comes to someone like you, Linda, having the same lettuce-shaped plate! I hope that you’re doing well these days.
Roz
Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction says
May 21, 2015 at 10:18 PMRoz,
Your garden looks wonderful. I haven’t planted a garden in a few years but I’m hoping to have a few plants this year.
Annamaria
Roz says
July 17, 2015 at 3:12 PMThanks Annamaria, this has been a good summer for having a garden. I need to get busy picking tomatoes now!
Roz
Liz says
May 22, 2015 at 8:54 PMI wish we had more sun in our yard so I could plant a big garden. Plus some good ol’ Iowa soil—so much clay in ours here. But you’ve put me in the mood for salad—I’ll pick up some lettuces tomorrow. Happy holiday weekend, Roz! xo
Roz says
July 16, 2015 at 7:38 PMHi Liz,
I am so behind in replying to everyone; hard spring and summer and I hope that you understand. I wish it wasn’t so hot right now or I would be planting another round of lettuce to nosh on and enjoy!
Hugs,
Roz
Chiara says
May 23, 2015 at 5:16 PMYour garden looks wonderful, Roz !Have a nice weekend, a hug
Roz says
July 16, 2015 at 7:32 PMGrazie mille, cara e’ bella amica di Italia! I hope to have a more productive garden next year; I had so little time to tend to the garden this year.
Hugs,
Roz