"tossed salad" news and stories

There are a million slaws out there that grace our tables, but we never seem to push the world of finely sliced vegetables into the tossed salad realm. I don't know why -- it's incredibly easy and breeds new life into an old standard. When I whipped up some kielbasa-mustard-mustard cheese sandwiches over the weekend, I needed a salad side that would fill out the meal -- Tossed Slaw to the rescue!

This couldn't be easier: just cut fine slivers of the veggies you'd put in your salad, toss them with some spices, oil, and vinegar, and serve. The result is much healthier than some of our classic mayo-laden slaws, and it offers a whole world of extra flavor. The toppings mix perfectly with each strand and create a much richer salad taste that focuses on the overall flavor rather than one ingredient.

One of my favorite greasy spoons knows how to lather on the greasy, tasty fat. However, it also introduced me to one of my favorite salads -- the normal mix topped with guacamole. In the summer, it's an insanely delicious and easy way to have a big and healthy meal with a good helping of avocado's nutrients and great fresh veggies. The guacamole is also a great replacement for dressing -- completely healthy, thick, and filling.

All you do is bring together your favorite tossed salad ingredients, grind some fresh salt and pepper on top, and then top with as much guacamole as you'd like. The above picture is just a salad of tomato, lettuce, and onion, with a little drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil and the guacamole. But if time is an issue, this meal also works just as well with simple mashed guacamole with seasoning.