We all have our beloved foods which never cease to satisfy us. They’re reliable, delicious, and something we always look forward to. 

If you’re anything like me, you have your favorite go-to salad. It’s familiar, dependable and you are loyal to it as dog is to man.

While dependable foods are undeniably wonderful, they’re not always exciting. Introducing a touch of variation can effortlessly breathe new life into your fave food relationship. 

This week, challenge yourself to make that go-to salad a little more interesting each and every day by infusing it with at least one new summertime ingredient.

Let me suggest how you can make your summer salad more fun and compelling while you enjoy the unbelievable eats from sunny farms and gardens.

Your step-by-step guide for an awesome summer salad:

• Start with a base: kale, romaine, spinach, mesclun, watercress, zen mix or spring mix
• Add your lean protein: beans, eggs, salmon, tuna, beef, chicken, turkey, tuna, tofu or shrimp
• Summer it up with:
  • ¾ cup watermelon cubes and 1 ounce feta or goat cheese
  • Roasted beets cut into ½ inch cubes, 1 ounce goat cheese, ½ cup walnuts
  • 2 Cucumbers diced, 1 heirloom tomato diced, 1 cup chickpeas (rinsed), ½ cup finely sliced red onion, 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup farmer’s market berries and ½ small avocado with cracked black pepper and a sprinkle of fleur de sel
  • ½ cup cherries, 8 walnuts, pomegranate vinegar and 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • ½ cup roasted corn (off the cob), ½ cup grilled zucchini, ½ cup grilled tomatoes
  • 1 fresh, or grilled peach, diced, 1 oz ricotta cheese

Indulge in the taste of summer with delightful, fun, and delicious salad creations. Pass me a napkin. I’m diggin’ in!

RELATED: Refreshing Summer Salad Recipe

(Image: Shutterstock)