For quick, no-fuss week-night salads try some of the ideas below.  If you scroll down, you'll also find some easy dressings.

 

• Put a few lettuce leaves on each plate, slice some tomatoes, put them on top of the lettuce, and sprinkle  some dried or fresh basil on top of the tomatoes.  Drizzle each serving with a bit of balsamic vinegar.

 

• Toss some lettuce in a bowl with whatever fresh vegetables you have on hand—carrots, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, celery, radishes, broccoli pieces, etc.—and serve with one of the dressings below.

 

• Wash and cut a head of lettuce into wedges.  Serve a wedge on each plate, garnished with some cherry tomatoes or whatever other salad vegetables you have on hand (some radishes? little carrots?).  Drizzle a creamy or Thousand Island dressing over the wedges.

 

• Wash some spinach leaves and put some on each plate. Drain a small can of beets and put the beets on top of the spinach.  Drizzle on some vinaigrette and sprinkle the salads with a bit of blue or feta cheese.

 

• Toss romaine lettuce with some shredded Parmesan cheese, halved cherry tomatoes and a simple vinaigrette (see below). Toss on some croutons.

 

• Put a few baby lettuce leaves on each plate, slice a mango and top the lettuce with the mango slices. Drizzle on some lime vinaigrette (see below).

 

• Put some washed spinach leaves on each plate.  Wash, hull, and slice some fresh strawberries and top the spinach with them.  Drizzle on some lemon or sweet vinaigrette (see below).

 

• Put some washed arugula on each plate.  Slice an apple and put the slices on top of the arugula.  Drizzle on some lemon or sweet vinaigrette.  Sprinkle on some chopped walnuts.