Just when I thought my opinion of Oprah couldn't be lower, she goes and makes something like this. Does Opera think her audience is made up mental defectives? If you need a chart to make a variety of salads ... well, maybe you are a bit defective.

http://www.kilgoreskitchen.blogspot.com

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I think that there are many people out there who would like to eat more healthfully, and more interestingly, than "ranch on iceberg." If a simple chart of suggestions gives someone inexperienced in the kitchen the confidence to mix things up a little, it's all good.
A little tolerance for those still expanding their culinary horizons and experience would probably be appreciated...

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Forgive my Oprah/Opera issues. I've got opera on the brain today.

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First, I'm not the best cook in the world. That's why I read here, to maybe improve.

Second, I've never been a big salad eater. I'm a side salad kind of guy -- like Cary said, ranch on iceberg.

Glancing at the chart made me think a little harder about expanding my salad horizons.

Alice, you need to chill a bit. If you can't stand the Oprah, avert thine eyes.

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I like the chart - and anything else that gets me thinking about dressin' up an otherwise boring veggie.

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I think the chart is pretty nifty!

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My first instinct was with Alice. I know what to put in salad! But then I looked at the chart and thought it was pretty well done. It covers vegetarians and omnivores and has some interesting combos in there.

I have to admit I get stuck in a rut sometimes and it's good to have a quick chart to check out and maybe revive my love of raw veggies.

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I have to agree with Alice. If you need a pop-culture celebrity to tell you the 'right' things to put in a salad then you are missing out on its most valuable aspects: the freedom to pick out whatever looks fresh, seasonal, and tantalizing at the market that day, and to take advantage of what's already in your pantry without having to fuss with a particular ingredients list. If inexperience is the issue then information like 'endive is a hearty leaf with a slightly bitter flavor' or 'frisee is bushy and difficult to wrestle into your mouth without getting dressing on your cheek' might be more useful than a p's and q's list. If it's just that people feel special and safe knowing that they are consuming an 'Oprah Approved' combination, then I've got some apron strings to sell them. Salad really isn't rocket science (trust me, I'd know).

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I agree that this salad chart seems pretty absurd, but come on, where does insulting the original poster come in? And isn't it ironic to write about others' alleged mental deficiencies while not being able to spell Oprah's name correctly after having spelled it correctly in a previous sentence?

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I like the chart a lot. It's especially useful if one receives different greens in a farmbox/veg subscription. I'll be printing it out.

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I like the chart. It's basic and easy and it's actually one of the FEW Oprah endorsed items I have a use for. I am quite confident in my cooking aptitude, but I can still appreciate a basic cookbook, and that's how I viewed this. Perhaps not everyone is blessed with the inherent knowledge that beets taste good with chickpeas - they need someone to suggest it.

Oh, and anyone with half a brain could look at frisee + salad dressing and guess they might need a napkin...or a freaking knife.

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I don't know if my previous post actually posted, but this is the jist of what I said. Who cares who introduced? I don't care if it was Oprah or the Pope. I like salad, but hate to prepare it, so the chart helps take some of the guesswork out and helps with grocery shopping, etc.

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I really think she had a stomach band or stapling.. and she has to eat small because of it. I agree what does she think were not as bright as
"she" and she can tell us to a salad and what to put in it!!! duh???

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BTW the chart mentions some SUGGESTIONS for salad dressings. Does anyone know where to get recipes for good Cilantro-cumin, the mint-cumin, Greek-lemon oregano, or Green Goddess dressings?

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To Carol S. You asked if anyone knew where to get recipes for good Cilantro-Cumin... I found a link, don't know personally if it's good, but it's worth a shot.. Here's the link.
http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/recipe_cilantrocumin.htm
Hope this helps you out. Dee

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To CarolS, try this link below for ideas on how to make the cilantro-cumin recipes.

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/recipe_cilantrocumin.htm

hopes this helps you out.

And for all those people who just love to hate.. we don't care to read negative feedback, you can just keep that to yourself. No sense trying to spread your hate around. Thank you.
Dee

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A salad is anything mixed around with some decent greens. For dinner this evening I had bagged italian mixed greens (too lazy to cut my own), with a mix of crumbled ground turkey cooked with a can of italian seasoned tomatoes. Threw on a little garlic powder, a splash of no-fat ranch dressing (yep- ranch always works!), fresh cherry tomatoes, pepper to taste a wa-la! Salad!!! Don't know where it fits on Oprah's chart (if at all), but who cares. It looks good, tastes great- kind of like a hamburgwer with little fat and no bun, I won't be hungrey again in an hour, takes less than 10 minutes to make start to finish and is all in 1 large bowl. I understand some people like a change, but DAG!!! Open your fridge and make a dag-gone salad already!!! If you really want a no work, low fat salad, try a can of Hormel's Turkey Chili on top of bagged greens... Another lazy man's yummy dinner in this lazy girl's cookbook!

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It's just a salad recipe book in chart form. Not a bad idea.

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Thanks for those that give helpful info (gourmetsleuth)
If you don't care for the subject or Oprah, move along. Why waste your energy on the negative? Use that energy to give us your best advice on salads, etc.
Eat your wonderful salad and ponder on something positive!

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Make your own dressing!!!!!!!

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