Simple salads for slimmers

I thought you might like to know my ideas for simple salads. They begin with cos (Romaine) lettuce, or regular lettuce spiced up with a few leaves of arugula (rocket) I grow in pots in my backyard, or young leaves of poi (Indian spinach) also grown in a barrel in my backyard.

Tomatoes, red, ripe, but not too big (and tasteless) salad tomatoes are a must for my salads and sliced cucumber, too. When I’m feeling extravagant I buy imported celery and radishes to slice up to vary my simple salad.

For the necessary protein in my salads I try to keep at least two ready-boiled eggs in the fridge (carefully marked with “B” on the shells so I know which eggs are which). For a change I’ll have grated Cheddar cheese, or Danish Blue if I’m in funds, or channa if I’m not. To ring the changes I’ll have a slice or three of lean ham. Or a small tin of salmon. Or roast beef or something so from the delicatessen

What about dressings, you ask? Well, what about them? If you’re really serious about losing weight all the seasonings you need are salt, pepper, a hint of vinegar (balsamic if you can afford it, or cider, or apple for a change) and the merest drizzle (if that) of olive oil.

And for the carbohydrates? A slice of wholewheat bread but no butter if you’re determined to lose a pound a week, if not make croutons by frying cubes of bread in olive oil with a peg or two of crushed garlic. You can make a batch of croutons to last a week or more sealed tight in a clean, used, pickle of preserves jar and stored in the fridge.

You do, of course, make your own mayonnaise? Of course, every blender comes supplied with a recipe book that will tell you how to make it, if you don’t already know how easy it is to whip up ‘mayo’ in the blender.

And that’s about it for this week.

Bon appetit!