I bought 2 fresh bunches of spinach when I was at Portobello Market at 90p each. Given a choice between Tesco or Sainsbury’s or M&S or Waitrose already washed, ready to eat and nicely packed spinach and those from farmers’ markets, I think I would prefer to pick my own fresh spinach that are unwashed, tight in a bunch with rubber bands, then wrapped in brown paper bags.

  

I have to agree with Pixie from You Say Tomato I Say Tomato that I love the vibes at farmers’ market too. When I was little, I liked to follow my mom to the market. Even until now. I remember I had my little basket and my mom had a big one. Nothing could be much more exciting than seeing fresh vegetables, seafood, fruits, poultry,… etc. And to be able to choose the items in the quantity we desired, also to negotiate.

 

With the spinach that I bought, I decided to make Salade Campagnarde aux Epinards. This salad is so easy to make and so tasty with the fresh leaves that I bought directly from the farmer instead of through the supermarket chains. They definitely taste sweeter (This is not my imagination, it’s true!)

 

Right. If you would like to try my version Salade Campagnarde aux Epinards, following is the recipe and method.

 

Serve 2

Ingredients:

2 or 3 handful of spinach

some cherry tomatoes (halves)

100g lardons (diced bacons)

2 eggs (hard boiled)

2 medium potatoes (boiled)

some croutons (optional)

 

Dressing:

4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

0.5 tsp Dijon mustard

pinch of salt

pink of freshly ground pepper

 

Method:

1. Mix all the ingredients for the dressing together and give it a good whisk. Set aside.

2. Pan fried the lardons until they are golden brown and crispy. Set aside.

3. Halves the cherry tomatoes. Set aside.

4. Boil the potatoes. Set aside to let them cold then cut into chunky cubes.

5. Prepare hard boiled eggs. Set aside. Remove the shells then quartered.

6. Put spinach, cherry tomatoes and potatoes in a salad bowl. Give it a good toss.

7. Serve a good portion in each bowl/plate.

8. Sprinkle the lardons on the salad. Then, add some croutons.

9. At last, arrange the hard boiled eggs on top of the salad.

10. Drizzle a good amount of dressing over the salad. It’s then ready to be served.

This time, I am featuring a salad with a little bit of oriental touch! I use 3 very simple ingredients: Goji Berry/Wolfberry, Spinach and Bean Sprouts.

 

As for the salad dressing - this is where the oriental soupçon really kicks in! All you need are:

 

1 tbsp of lemon juice
1 tsp of fish sauce
1 tsp spoon of sugar
dash of soya sauce
1 tsp of seasame oil
0.5 tsp of ginger
some black pepper

 

That’s about it really. So simple yet healthy!

 

Happy cooking (preparing rather!)

I believe in healthy eating on a daily basis - less salt intake, use olive oil, less sugar intake, avoid deep-frying food possible.. etc. Thus, a bowl of vegs and fruits brings more good than harm and it doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare.

 

It’s always good to start a meal with a bowl of salad, which is said to rev up one’s appetite. I love salads - all sorts. Not only they fill me up but it makes me feel less guilty sometimes when I think I have eaten too much.

 

I made a real simple salad that took probably less than 10 minutes to prepare. Ingredients? Here are the main ingredients you need.

 

Serve 2 persons

A
2 handful of ice lettuce (break into small pieces if desired)
4-5 cherry tomatoes
12 small buffalo mozzarella
some melon/cantaloupe balls

B
Dressing:
2 tbsps of walnut oil
1 tsp of vinaigre de xérès (sherry vinegar) or balsamic vinegar
some salt & pepper
some herbes de provence (mixed herbs)

 

Put all ingredients A in a salad bowl, then pour in the dressing and give it a good toss. I sometimes like to serve the dressing separately - to dress my salad as and when I want to eat it - to welcome my meal in a more exciting way!