Tuesday, September 8, 2009

~*My Aunt Lavon's Chopped Salad*~

Hello Friends! I'm posting a second time today! :) My dear friend, Marianne, asked me this morning if I would please share my recipe for chopped salad. She hasn't had the salad, but has heard me talk about it so much... she wants more information. Well, it really isn't a 'recipe', it really isn't my idea, and it isn't anything fancy.

A few years ago, my dear Aunt Lavon told me about this great salad that she had at an upscale, Italian restaurant. She took me into her kitchen & started chopping to show me how it was done. WOW! I had never seen a salad made like this. After tasting it... it is really cool how the flavor of the veggies just blend together when you do it this way.

*~*~* Disclaimer before I show any pictures or tell you any more... I am NOT like Martha, Paula, Rachel, or any of the other Greats in the kitchen... so don't expect any professionalism here. *~*~*

Start with veggies...



Any fresh veggies will work ~ and I do mean ANY. This morning I grabbed a bag of what I call 'cheater salad' along with some carrots, tomatoes, and celery. However, I LOVE to add fresh broccoli, cucumber, cauliflower, and greeen & red peppers too... I was just feeling a little tired this morning from all the roof work over the weekend. A small salad was good enough today.

Wash your veggies ~ of course, I didn't even have to tell you that. Do you have a salad spinner? I totally LOVE mine! Although, I can't tell if I like it because it gets the water off the lettuce or if I just like playing with it.

Begin with your 'cheater salad'... you can easily use a head of iceberg lettuce, spinach, or other greens, this was just easier today...

Using your biggest knife, begin chopping...



Working with a large handful of lettuce at a time... chop, chop, chop, chop, and chop some more until the lettuce is just lil' bits & pieces...



Transfer the chopped lettuce to your bowl & begin working on your other veggies... cutting them into small bits & pieces too. I should have gotten my other veggies cut up a little smaller... but again, I'm feeling kinda tired from the weekend...

carrots...



celery...



and tomatoes... with the seeds removed (I just cut them & scoop out the seeds ~ not sure how to really do it right)...



Mix everything together & 'voila ~ chopped salad!



In our household, we all prefer different salad dressings. So we each just grab a bowl full & add our own. Yummy!

This salad has become a family favorite & is requested at almost each get~together we have. Enjoy!

Warm smiles,

Betty

19 comments:

  1. looks good betty - I've never chopped up my "chopped salads" that fine - but will give it try - Come to think of it - every have a salad from "Saldworks" (a chain around here) they chop pretty fine and I love their salads! Thanks for sharing!

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  2. Betty that looks delicious. Thanks for posting the how to on your blog for me! : ) Have to try this one out for sure. I can see how the flavors would all blend better.

    Joanne I'll bet Saladworks is what I use to get for lunch back in Jersey. Loved it.

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  3. Betty that looks delicious!!!!! Thanks for sharing. xxxRobby

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  4. Mmm, so simple, but looks so good. Thanks Betty! Will be having that real soon..

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  5. thanks... started weight watchers and this looks like a winner!!! :)

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  6. I love salads and this looks like a winner. I can't wait to try it. Thank you for posting it! :)

    Debbie

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  7. Oh so yummy and healthy looking! Thanks for taking the time to 'splain it to us! I think I'll add this to tonight's dinner menu!

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  8. The salad looks delicious Betty! And it's pretty too! I'm going to make one tonight.

    Lori R

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  9. That salad sure looks good and so easy! Guess I better pick up some veggies and give it a try! Thanks for sharing :)

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  10. You INSPIRED me to try this for supper last nite Betty! It was YUMMY! I also chopped up some ham really fine & threw in some shredded cheese, too!
    Thanks for sharing!:)
    lisa

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  11. Betty had to tell you I made this tonight to go with dinner, dh told me I'm not allowed to make any other salad again :) Thank you so much it was awesome, I used iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and carrots shredded cheese and turked bacon pieces. YUMMY

    Thank you
    Rhonda

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  12. I tried Aunt Lavon's chopped salad last night. Mine was very simple,
    bagged salad mix, tomatoe, celery, carrot, cucumber. Hubby and daughter had it as a side and I had it as a main with the addition of smoked turkey and cheese.
    Hubby and daughter liked it very much. They asked where did I get the salad from as though I bought it at the store.
    A bib lol 'eh

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  13. Woo hoo, my mouth is watering. This I will have to try. The picture looks scrumptious!

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  14. Just made Aunt Lavon's salad and it was really good. We had it for lunch and I ate 2 bowls! I used shredded lettuce, bell pepper, celery, onion, carrotts and the only tomatoes I had were grape tomatoes so I cut them in half for the salad.
    It was really good. I hope it keeps well since I made a large bowl.
    PS: Sorry I misspelled scrumptuous on my last post.

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  15. Okay Betty. Now I feel like a test kitchen, lol.
    I don't want to beat this horse to death, but I've tried this salad more than several times in several different ways; the latest adding spinach and cilantro. Very interesting and tasty.
    Thank you(and Aunt Lavon) for the salad.
    Jack...

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