A Simple Guide to Making an Amazing Salad

Sometimes a simple salad is all you need.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I have nothing against spending four or five hours in the kitchen, chopping and dicing like a human Veg-O-Matic. But sometimes you're in a hurry or you just have too much to do. It's days like that, that you just want a salad for lunch or dinner.
Making a salad is pretty easy. You can just throw a bunch of veggies in a bowl, but you can follow this simple suggestions for making a delicious salad.
This essential Salad Guide can make your salads the best you've ever had.

•  Make everything bite-sized or smaller.  When each bite contains more than one type of food, salad just tastes better.  And no one wants to contend with a huge tomato wedge or thick cucumber slice – so cut everything into a similar size so that each forkful is tasty and manageable.
• Go with grains. Add a little rice or barley to a salad to give the salad some fiber and texture.
• Include cheese. Cheese can make the difference between a good salad and a great salad. Some people like mild cheeses like cheddar to offset the sharpness of a mixed green salad. I like the sharpness of a feta or a chèvre to stand out amongst the other flavors. I have a friend that adds shaved parmesan to the top of every salad she makes to "finish it properly". That little kick of salty goodness will kick that salad up to the next level.
• Sweet treat. Fruit, fresh or dry, is always a sweet addition to any salad. Again, that
• Add a bit of a crunch. Salads are quite soft overall, so add a little crisp to your bite. Nuts, raw or candied. Croutons. Seeds. Any of these things will make a salad go from bland to bangin'. 
• Also, salads don't have to have greens, you know.  They a tomato-based salad or one built around cucumbers or beans.

Salads are a great place to experiment with flavors and textures. It's a simple meal on its own or paired with some crusty bread or a soup. But, a simple meal doesn't have to be a boring meal. Make your salad something amazing...not just "rabbit food."