1.02.2013

Kevin's salad (recipe)

I'm participating in the Widowed Blog Hop this month. Be sure to check out the other participants and leave them some comment love. For the largest list of blogs by Widowed folks, check my blog roll here. To add yours to the list, use this form.

Thank you to Samantha Light-Gallagher for putting the blog hop together!

_ _ _ _ _ _ 

Kevin wooed and won me, at least in part, with this salad. I was amazed he could cook at all; when we were a couple, he was really the one who did the cooking for the entire 14 years. It has taken me 6 and a half years (he died in 2006) to make this salad again and I had forgotten just how delicious it is. I tried to remember the last time he made it… it was a long time ago. At least 2002 or 2003, although I made huge batches for office potlucks a few times.

Kevin's salad is perfect for winter, a little tart and quite sweet, refreshing and green. It looks modest despite its special flavor; you could add some red pepper curls for decoration if you are serving it at a party. Cause your company deserves this salad!

And it's perfect, just for you, on some cold, dark evening, next to some fatty warm comfort food (Mac and cheese? Pot roast?).  Happy New Year!

Ingredients
  • Lettuce, well washed, a soft leaf lettuce like red leaf or bibb, NOT Romaine or Iceberg, not mesclun mix or fancy or anything from a bag. REAL LETTUCE. 
  • Fresh cilantro, washed, stems removed, a handful or less
  • Fresh garlic, at least 5 cloves
  • Scallions, washed, de-slimed (remove outer layer), sliced into thin diagonal slices. Remove the darkest green half or two-thirds of the stalk.
  • Cucumber, preferably burpless, peeled and sliced into thin diagonal slices
  • Rice wine vinegar, regular (sweetened)
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Olive oil
  • Vegetable oil
  • Salt and pepper
Pretty much all the ingredient amounts should be adjusted to your taste, but go light on the dressing.
Directions
  1. Chop and crush the garlic and rub it all over the inside of a large prep bowl. Tear the lettuce into bite size pieces. Add the cilantro and lettuce to your garlicky bowl in batches and toss gently.
  2. In a separate cup or bowl, mix the two vinegars and two oils to taste. Add some water if you feel it needs it.
  3. Gently toss the salad with your hands, adding dressing slowly, and salting and peppering lightly as you go. Be careful not to overhandle the salad and do use as little dressing as possible. This whole thing is tricky because you don't want to get dressing all over your pepper grinder. Have paper towels on hand and MAKE IT WORK.
  4. Transfer to a serving bowl as you gently toss in the scallion and cucumber.
  5. Don't make this salad too far in advance... it will wilt, and anyway, you want your guests to say, "my,  you are really fussing over that salad!"

5 comments:

Jess said...

I found your blog via blog hop. I enjoy that you are sharing memories and tidbits of your loved one, not just heavy grief (there is always a time/place for that as well) I always feel like I learn more about a person, and feel more connected to their loved one via stories like this. Thanks. If you want, my blog is at www.buttontobeans.blogspot.com and my most popular post is http://buttontobeans.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-divorceing-widow.html

Thanks again

Supa Dupa Fresh said...

Whoa... really? I've been reading yours for a while! LOL.
Thanks for being here. We'd love to connect you on WidowedVillage.org. We have a bunch of folks who were widowed after divorce/breakup and I know they'd love to meet you!
X
Supa

Samantha Light-Gallagher said...

This is a great story to share. You know it is the simple things that allow us to really get to know someone. My husband used to make the best meatballs and I have tried to make them, but they never taste as good as his. He did not have a recipe that he left behind, but I used to secret watch him so I knew what he put in them. I just haven't been able to get the ratio right yet. I know he is laughing at me each time I attempt...telling me it is a secret recipe.
Samantha

Red said...

This is great. All my husband could cook came from a box or a jar. ;)
Happy New Year, Robin.
xxx

Andrea Volpe said...

Fresh Widow, I send my love and I will make this salad.
Love, Your Best Odd Girl
Just posted my Feb. widows' hop post here:
http://internationalbrotherhood.blogspot.com

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