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- If you like fruity flavors, try combining dried cranberries, drained mandarin oranges, sliced almonds and grilled chicken with a fruity vinaigrette over spring greens.
- Asparagus is a great springtime food. Try lightly steaming some and combining it, shelled sweet peas, crumbled goat cheese and steamed shrimp with greens and a citrusy dressing.
- Combine at least two hues of sliced pepper, red and green onions and thinly sliced beef. Add a spicy dressing and chopped peanuts for a Thai-inspired salad.
- Roasting baby beets and having slices of them along with crumbled blue cheese makes an excellent accompaniment to steaks or grilled roasts.
- Mixing corn, black beans, tomatoes and onions makes a nice base for a southwestern style salad. Add seasonings, grilled or fried chicken and your favorite shredded cheese for a taco salad. Serve it with tortilla chips.
- Sometimes combining all of the fresh produce you can carry in one salad is the best way to make a garden salad. If you need something else, try adding some nuts or croutons and finish it off with a creamy dressing.
- Take chicken salad to a different level by adding curry powder, raisins and a little lemon peel. Plain chicken salad becomes Indian chicken salad in minutes!
- Try layering slices of pear, apple and roasted pork over coleslaw for an interesting twist. For something very special, consider a tangy apple cider vinegar based dressing and candied nuts as the finishing touch.
- Chopped sugar snap peas, matchstick carrots, bean sprouts and shredded chicken get a special Asian kick with the addition of fried chow mein noodles and a soy sauce based dressing.
- Combine half white wine and half honey and microwave to make a quick and simple fruit salad dressing. Add poppy seeds or shredded coconut for extra texture.
- Nestle a poached egg in the center of a bed of mixed greens for an elegant salad. Drizzle it with specialty oil and vinegar and sprinkle some shaved cheese over the top.