It is the time to head to the cold frame with your scissors and gathering basket. If you haven’t planted yours yet – there is still time to plant lettuces and other greens.
Here in the foothills of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina we have warm and cool weather this time of year. This fluctuation of weather makes growing it in a cold frame ideal. Late spring freezes and snow can be covered and protected against.
You can plant and cultivate traditional lettuce as well as try some baby greens of vegetables such as; beets, cabbage, bean sprouts and snow pea sprout. Do you have access to edible flowers? They need to free from any sprays or harmful treatments. Pansies add a happy face to a fresh garden salad.
Spring Salad
2 cups of a mixture of baby greens
1 cup baby spinach
½ cup shredded carrot
¼ cup sprouted mung beans
4 Pansies
Choice of dressings
Variations:
Add sliced hard boiled egg per serving
Add mandarin oranges – use juice in dressing
Add grilled chicken, steak or salmon
Add beans such as kidney or chickpeas
Add shredded cheeses
Add salsa and omit pansies
Sauté of Greens
Use your fresh greens in complement to sauté of greens – made up of your garden greens, spinach, Swiss chard, mustard and kale. Dress with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.
Variations:
Add shredded carrots and sauté
Add sauté of mushrooms
Spike up the flavor with hot pepper flakes
There are so many places you can add your greens. They add a fresh flavor to recipes for quiche, savory tarts and sandwiches.
