Creativity Everywhere with Salads
Creativity can be brought into all parts of life, including salad.
[Photo by Nadine Primeau on Unsplash]
Salad Beginnings
When I was young I got it into my head that salads consisted of tomatoes, lettuce and cucumber. And that was about it.
Fruit salads clearly also existed but they were a dessert.
Salad wasn't a thing on it's own, but a side dish to something more grand.
Over the years that's slowly changed but salad has always been a periphery thing
It took me 30 years to bother making a salad dressing. Super easy I know!
Changing Times
I'm trying to feed better things to my brain and body, and try new foods in Porto.
As I have a very small freezer and can't store lots of frozen foods. A family tradition is cooking a massive meal to eat for several days and freeze the rest for next week or a rainy day.
So I've decided to make salad more of a thing in my life.
New Salad Ideas
One of the opportunities of being somewhere new is starting new experiments. This is Experiment Salad.
Trying it in wraps, on its own, made in large portions to be consumed over a few days.
And experimenting with new foods to include, new recipes and salad dressings.
So far I've added in (beyond the big 3 of cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes 😁)
- uncooked mushrooms 🍄
- walnuts
- raw garlic
- raw ginger
- cashew nuts
- mixed herbs
- olives
- kale
- spinach
- cheese
- peppers
- seed mixture
- grapes
And I will be trying to add to salads
- beetroot
- more nuts
- any ingredients from Portuguese shops that look interesting
- new salad dressings
- grated carrot
- radishes
- avacado
- cooked potato
- cooked rice
- cauliflower
- sweetcorn
- raw onion
- tuna
I may even start growing some of my own herbs 😊. Apparently gardens are a family tradition.
By making it an experiment I'm gamifying it and making it a bigger thing in my mind.
I may even experiment with salad presentation. Hmm or salad faces? Maybe a salad pinterest board?
What's the Point
There are thing we take for granted that we can look at with fresh eyes. Everywhere in our lives. Ways to apply creativity and make things fun.
Might be something to explore more in the future...
Finishing Up
Where have you applied creativity in your life to your own surprise?
Any salad tips welcome
Duncan