A Salad for Earth Day

Yesterday, Tuesday April 22, was Earth Day.

With a nod to this occasion I made a salad.

I bought some ramps (or wild leeks) at a farmers market. Although ramps resemble scallions their flavor is a cross between garlic & onions & has deliciously tender leaves. They grow wild from South Carolina up to Canada. The young women who were selling these had foraged for them in the north Georgia woods. 

Using the ramps as inspiration for my Earth Day salad I built it with other locally grown greens, two kinds of kale, arugula & lettuces all found at the same lovely little farmers market .

 I loved these tiny turnips which added a slightly pungent flavor to the rest of the mild & bitter greens.

I dressed the salad with my usual vinaigrette. 

Macerate one clove of garlic in salt & mash at the bottom of a bowl

Add one large spoonful of a good quality vinegar or lemon juice

( when using lemon juice you can also add a dollop of mustard & drizzle of honey but for this salad I just wanted the simplest of flavors )

Then three large spoonfuls of your favorite oil

Mix & voila!

This was certainly a perfect salad to dine on for Earth Day with all of its freshly harvested greens & earthy flavors. But the ramps were indeed the star.

 I like to think that everyday is Earth Day…. in which case ….wishing you a very happy one!