You stumble into your sweaty apartment, weary after a long day of lectures. Amid a stream of obscenities directed at your worthless air conditioner, you realize you're starving. Sure, you love beef stroganoff, but that stuff is meant to keep babushka-wearing women warm in a Siberian winter. You need something light, refreshing and satisfying.
You crack a beer and think, 'How about a salad?' Immediately, you have second thoughts: Vegetables are expensive. All that chopping and tossing is complicated. Store-bought mixes are bland. Salads are girly and will never fill my stomach.
Well, cast those thoughts aside, and let this be your guide to preparing a crisp salad on a hot day.
You wouldn't build a house with rotting wood, so don't sabotage your salad with a crappy foundation - use fresh greens! Crispy iceberg lettuce is the perfect blank slate for your salad creativity. Throw in some spinach for flavor and depth. To accent your green foundation, try peppery arugula, crunchy purple cabbage or bittersweet chicories like escarole, endive and radicchio. Too much work? If you insist on buying bagged lettuce mixes, head to Trader Joe's - you'll find the freshest and cheapest greens in town.
Better yet, load up on fresh ingredients at the Dane County Farmers' Market. You can find all sorts of great salad additions, all fresh from local farms and gardens. Pick up a pound of sugar snap peas, some giant cucumbers or a few crunchy carrots. Add a fruity element to your salad with some juicy raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or one of more than 30 kinds of apples offered at the market.
Personalize your salad with tasty add-ins. Dried fruits like cranberries or apricots give a sugary burst. Canned artichoke hearts are a vegetable indulgence, and black or green olives are a salty delight. For protein, pick up some walnuts, almonds or pecans. Toast them in the oven to bring out the wonderful flavors, or toss them in a sauce pan with some butter and sugar, and in minutes, you'll have homemade candied nuts.
A good cheese takes a salad to the next level. Salty feta gives a Greek accent. Shred some smoky gouda over a southwestern salad. Use piquant blue or creamy gorgonzola cheeses with sharp vinaigrette dressings. Rich goat or chevre cheese is perfect with fruits and nuts. And parmesan is a must in a Caesar salad.
Of course the best place to find your favorite cheese is the farmers' market - chefs around the world clamor for Wisconsin cheeses. But for the best bargain, head back to Trader Joe's. You'll find a huge selection of high quality cheeses at prices that are making the Whole Foods crowd nervous.
You've got all the ingredients set, but it's the dressing that can make or break your salad. For these last few hot weeks, keep it light. Love blue cheese dressing? Try blue cheese crumbles with a vinaigrette - your waistline will thank you.
One of the best new products to hit grocery shelves is Wish-Bone Salad Spritzers. The spray-bottle salad dressing comes in seven flavors: balsamic, Italian, red wine, Caesar, French, raspberry and Asian. The even spray eliminates the need for tossing, and at one calorie per spray it's healthy without losing flavor.
If you're feeling chef-like, try making your own simple dressing.
For a southwestern taste, mix garlic, chili powder, lime juice and olive oil. An easy Thai peanut dressing includes peanut butter, pineapple juice, soy sauce, ginger and garlic. For a bright citrus flavor, add your favorite citrus fruit juice to olive oil and throw in a pinch of mustard.
It's just as easy to liven up bland store-bought dressings. Use garlic or pepper to sharpen the flavor, make it richer by adding sour cream, toss in some chopped scallions or chives, or add a dash of mustard.
If you lack creative spark, here are a few ideas to get you started.
Try a basic summer salad of greens, your favorite berries, nuts, chevre cheese and a fruity vinaigrette.
Make a Greek salad with olives, feta cheese and a dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar and oregano flakes.
Whip up a filling wild rice salad by combining minute-rice with toasted almonds, cranberries, green onions and balsamic vinegar.
For a spicy salad, mix chopped tomatoes with corn, fresh cilantro, black beans, chili powder and a chili-lime dressing.
Or for a refreshing fruit salad, mix all your favorite fruits with a simple syrup of sugar, water and fresh mint.
So there you have it: simple salads for hot days that don't cost a fortune and won't leave you hungry. As for your worthless air conditioner - or complete lack thereof - I suggest you crack another beer.
