Week of salad: day two, soldiering on

Well, unlike Osama Bin Laden, I can eat a meal today (seriously, no matter what political side you fall on, it is a kick-ass week for the US military). Today's salad is called "American classic." (you'll see why)

Ingredients:romaine lettuce, flank steak (seasoned w/ Penzey's Arizona Dreaming & lime juice), cucumbers, blue cheese and cranberries. (ahem: cranberry=red, cheese=blue & white... yup, I'm corny like that)

Dressing: homemade balsamic vinaigrette (balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mustard)

**notes on salad dressing:

1. make your own. It takes less than 2 minutes and the freshness will liven the salad without needing more than 2 tbsp
2. add it to the side of the bowl and lightly toss. Don't dump it on the top--- this is how you get soggy salad
3. KISS- keep it simple, silly: a base of vinegar & olive oil or safflower oil with: lemon, lime, italian seasoning, mustard, herbs de provence, rosemary & garlic--- find something that makes your heart sing.

And because I haven't shown you any knitting (tomorrow for an update), here's a cute cat picture. She looks sweet, innocent and snuggly here, right? Well, this morning she was loud, puking and bit me. But, after PC left for work and I was making my salad, she was there, underfoot in the kitchen: begging. Begging for what? Lettuce. Yup, my weird human-like cat wanted lettuce. She ate 3 pieces in 2 seconds.

PC and I are putting in a raised bed next weekend (God help us: construction) and have some ideas for planting: green beans, wax beans (we are green bean people- 2-3 nights per week!), lettuce, zucchini, peppers. I'm going to try strawberries in a hanging basket on a shepherd's hook and the lettuce in a vertical tower in the corner of the garden.