Craving fresh and crisp? How about a salad!

For most of us, winter is behind us and the weather has turned to spring. The scenery around our homes and work have changed from drab and bare to bright green and even colorful flowers are blooming. Things are coming back to life after a long winter. For many of us, this means spring gardening. For all of us, this means the return of fresh salad fixings!

We've spent the last several months enjoying hearty, filling and often heavy comfort foods. Now is the time for lighter dishes, fresh flavors and quick and easy meals. Thankfully, many areas are also seeing the return of the fresh produce markets. While fresh local produce may be very limited right now, in the next few weeks we will start to see more and more fresh vegetables appear. One of which are salad greens and lettuce.

There are about as many different varieties and flavors of salad greens and lettuce as there are people and their personal preferences. Some of us want a crisp, peppery and almost bitter lettuce or green. Others want a more mild flavor. Whatever you crave, there is a lettuce or salad green to meet your needs.

Whatever you decide on, it is always fun to mix different kinds of lettuce, cabbage, spinach, and other salad greens together in your salad bowl for a contrast in flavor. Adding other vegetables to your salad will also provide other levels of flavor.

Adding meats and cheeses to your salad can turn an every day salad into a complete meal in minutes. Perfect for those busy spring sports nights! Adding your favorite salad dressing can add another level of flavor. Let's face it, the dressing can make or break a salad in a hurry.

Need dressing ideas or recipes? Several can be found on Gling and are easy to whip up in a hurry. A good list to get you started is here. So many flavor combonations to match any salad you could think of. It is so easy to make your own salad dressing, and a huge money saver as well. Plus, you know what is in it and that it is truly safe for your family and any food sensitivities they may have.

The options are limitless when it comes to salads and what can be added to them. Seeds and nuts bring a wonderful texture and flavor to any salad. Dried fruits such as cherries or cranberries are also wonderful additions. Fresh fruit is also another option, add mandarin orange segments, sliced pears or apples for added fresh flavor. Hungry yet?

How about bacon bits? Worried about unwanted additives in the store bought variety? Make your own, quick and easy. Any time you are cooking bacon for breakfast, make sure you cook one or two slices of bacon extra crispy and then crumble for a salad later on. Store these bits in the refrigerator.

Many of us, gluten-free or not, love croutons! Make your own out of your favorite gluten-free bread. Simply let the bread sit out on the counter to dry out a bit, much like you would for bread crumbs. Then cube it up, drizzle it with a bit of olive oil and herbs and toss in a hot skillet until they get to the level of toasting to suit your taste. Add a bit of grated Parmesan cheese after they come out of the skillet and are still hot, for some added flavor. So tasty!

Go visit your local farmer's markets and produce markets. There will soon be more options than you will know what to do with. Pick a few favorites, or find a few new lettuce varieties and make a big salad to go along with your dinner. Better yet, add some meat, hard cooked eggs, cheese and a few homemade croutons and have a meal. Don't forget your freshly made salad dressing.