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I hope you enjoyed the recent article on Loose Leaf Lettuce Varieties.

Lettuce you grow at home just doesn’t compare to the Iceberg variety commonly found at your local grocery store.

There is just no reason not to grow your own loose leaf lettuce varieties because it is just TOO easy.

Now, here’s a great way to enjoy some of the gourmet greens you grow!

Ranch Salad with Balsamic Vinegar Dressing

The Salad

* Fresh leaf lettuce
* One small can mandarin oranges (drained; reserve juice) *See note
* Handful of fresh mung bean sprouts
* 1/2 stalk celery, fine dice
* Sliced fresh mushrooms
* Kraft Finely Shredded 5 cheese blend
* A handful of La Choy Crispy Chow Mein Noodles
* Candied or sugared walnuts or pecans, or about 1/8 cup of salted sunflower kernels (NOT seeds; shelled kernels)
* One boiled egg, cut in half lengthwise
* A few crumbles of Blue Cheese for garnish

The Dressing

* 2 Tablespoons orange juice
* 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
* 1 finely diced garlic clove
* 1/2 teaspoon ground sea salt
* 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
* 3/4 cup olive oil
* 2-1/2 teaspoons light brown sugar

The How To

Rinse greens in colander and allow to air dry.

Mix the vinegar with the sugar, juice, garlic, salt and pepper. Place in a shaker or clean used vinegar bottle, add olive oil and shake to blend.

Arrange greens on individual salad plates. Add remaining ingredients except Blue Cheese, dividing ingredients among the remaining salads. No need to toss them, just “scatter” the ingredients in placement rather than clumping altogether.

Once salad is assembled, and be sure to sprinkle with a good handful of the Kraft fine shredded cheese, place a few chunks of Blue Cheese on top of each salad.

If eating immediately, place on table and shake dressing before applying to each salad.

If you need to prepare the rest of the meal, cover salads with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

*Note: always save drained fruit juice and syrup; you can easily freeze it, and it makes a wonderful addition to any grilling sauce, and can also be used to fill an empty soda can and used for beer can chicken, just using fruit nectar instead of beer, OR it can be used to make a fruit smoothie