Eating Your Garden: Healthy Fresh Spring Salads

I know we don't talk a lot about eating on here - usually I save this for the Cooking From Scratch blog - but sometimes learning about all the fun stuff you can make with the foods you grew yourself can be really inspiring, and can even encourage you to plant some new items in your garden that you haven't tried before. This time of year, as the days get longer, the sun gets hotter, and the soil gets warmer, many gardens are picking up steam pretty quickly. In many parts of the country, fresh and tasty spring offerings such as asparagus, lettuce, peas, and other spring greens are already available. And strawberries aren't far behind - yum!

First Salad of the Season (Photo credit: Chiot's Run)

As the weather warms up more and more fruits and vegetables become available, this means more opportunities to enjoy the delicious fruits of your labors. Here are three tasty and healthy spring salad recipes to try.

#1 Strawberry Spinach Salad

Spinach is rich in nutrients and the strawberries add a nice sweet touch to this tasty salad.

Ingredients:
* 12 ounces of fresh baby spinach
* 2  pints fresh strawberries thinly sliced
* ½ thinly sliced red onion
* Crumbled chevre or goat cheese
* Chopped walnuts

Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients:
* 1/2  cup  cider vinegar
* 1  tablespoon  minced onion
* 1/2  teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1/4  teaspoon  salt
* 1  cup  vegetable oil
* 2  tablespoons  poppy seeds
* Honey to taste

Directions:
Combine dressing ingredients and whisk well. Toss baby spinach with dressing. Place on serving plate. Sprinkle walnuts, strawberries and chevre on top of salad. Eat and enjoy!

#2 Cucumber Avocado Tomato Salad

Salad with avocado and red onion (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In many areas, this one's more of a summer treat, but if it's not time for these veggies yet where you are, save this one for later! Avocados are packed with healthy fats and they taste decadent. This salad is quick to prepare and tasty too.

Ingredients:
* 1 large cucumber halved lengthwise, seeded, and sliced
* 2 medium tomatoes seeded and diced
* 1 avocado, diced
* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 tablespoon lime juice
* 1 teaspoon Italian herb salad dressing mix or Italian mixed spices.

Directions:
To a medium bowl, add chopped cucumber, tomato, and avocado.
In a small dish combine olive oil, lime juice and herbs/salad dressing mix. Whisk until well combined. Pour over chopped vegetables and serve immediately.

#3 Tasty Nut and Pear Salad

This pleasant spring or fall salad combines the flavors of both fresh and dried fruits with the savory flavors of nuts and Swiss cheese.

Ingredients:
* 16 oz romaine lettuce leaves, torn in bite-size pieces
* 6-oz. Swiss cheese
* 1  cup  roasted, salted cashews
* 1/2  cup  sweetened dried cranberries like Craisins
* 1  large apple, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
* 1  large pear, cored and thinly sliced

Poppy Seed Dressing Ingredients
* 2/3  cup  light olive oil
* Honey to taste, approximately ¼ cup
* 1/3  cup  lemon juice
* 1 1/2  tablespoons  poppy seeds
* 2  teaspoons  finely chopped onion
* 1  teaspoon  Dijon mustard

Directions:
Combine salad ingredients in a large bowl. In a smaller dish blend dressing ingredients until smooth. You can use a blender or whisk by hand, whichever you prefer. Dress salad according to your preferences. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Spring is the perfect time to adorn your table with a variety of salads fresh from the garden. And preparing salads for lunch or dinner also helps you consume your recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables. Try these three recipes out this spring and enjoy the fruits of your garden!

And for more great healthy and tasty recipes, check out our Cooking From Scratch blog.