Salad Days

Late spring and into summer is made for eating salad. The weather in most parts of the country is perfect for growing abundant amounts of lettuce and other veggies. Here in California, we have been enjoying salad for days, and my sister, who lives in New York, told me that her salads have been amazing. I recently picked up this massive head of lettuce, and it reminded me of a story from my “salad days.”

A giant head of lettuce perfect for a spring or early summer salad.

I first posted this story ten years ago on July 6, 2009. Read on and enjoy!

I just had a chance to spend time with my friend Katie of North Coast Holistics (MI) while she housesits here in Sonoma County. She is staying at a beautiful home in Glen Ellen, where she lived with her ex years ago. He and his current partner have turned the place into a lush garden oasis that Katie and I enjoyed during her visit.

Katie and I picked lettuce, and Katie made a salad for us. This was a real treat for me since I am usually the salad-maker. We picked so much lettuce, yet hardly made a dent in what was growing (they must be supplying the entire neighborhood with greens as there were more than 20 heads fully fruited), that it created a salad for lunch and another for dinner.

The Trick to Fresh Tasting Salad

Katie then showed me the trick to the freshest tasting salad – pick the lettuce leaves and put them into a bowl of cool water. Katie rinsed the tender salad leaves a few more times and dried them off with a salad spinner. I learned some people have other methods that involve towels or swinging pillowcases, but the key is to get the salad dry after rinsing it.

While enjoying a salad made by someone else was undoubtedly a high point of the day, it was nothing compared to spending time with a close friend whom I don’t get to see often enough. When we see one another, the time is often too short, but I don’t regret not spending more time and feel lucky that Katie set aside a day for me. Katie is well loved here in Sonoma County and many people want to see her. She mentioned that she might come back and housesit somewhere else, and I truly hope that happens.

Now, I long for more lettuce and more “salad days” with Katie. I looked up the meaning of the term salad days – it refers to a time of innocence and youth. While Katie and I are long past that, I still like the phrase. For me, salad is life, and while I may be past my “salad days,” enjoying salad does provide a sense of innocence and youth to my life.