Stumped In The Supermarket? How To Choose Summer Salad Greens

During the summer -- or really any season -- sitting down to a big, hearty salad is one of the most refreshing things you can do for your body and your taste buds. But for many of us, these salads often do not come with enough variety of ingredients. Luckily, along with the blazing hot weather that's going on this July, come a plethora of fresh, leafy greens that can be easily purchased at your local farmer's market or grocery store.

The Food Network's Alex Guarnaschelli takes viewers on a virtual tour of New York City's Union Square Green Market -- adding in her best tips for buying, preparing and storing greens that are fresh, nutritious and delicious. "[There's] so much vibrant green stuff to be enjoying -- and the heart of that really lies in all these great lettuces that crop up seasonally in the summertime," says Guarnaschelli in this video.

It's clear that now is the time to mix things up -- in your salad bowl.

Comments

[tomteboda]

05:41 PM on 07/07/2011

I wish I could convince people in my family to eat anything other than iceberg. I've been trying for 20 years and I'm still the only person in the family who will touch non-iceberg lettuce.

[garystartswithg]

09:48 AM on 07/09/2011

so sneak it in! while they aren't looking! i would try something like escarole or butter to at least start -- they are very similar.

[tomteboda]

03:29 PM on 07/09/2011

They pick it out and throw it away. Been tried. And then I get to hear about how wasteful I'm being by serving lettuce that is "expensive and nobody likes".

[leftyirishwoman]

04:23 PM on 07/07/2011

Various lettuces are the easiest things to grow in the world. Get a rectangular flower box or deck model, a mix of good top soil/potting soil. Every two weeks we plant a new crop to mix things up as the lettuce ages. Since lettuce doesn't like too much sun, its great for apartments.

[frank day]

09:59 PM on 07/07/2011

Absolutely !

We grow lettuce all winter long in our garage window.

Very easy and Oh So Tasty !

[Sillypaws]

02:23 PM on 07/08/2011

Is it possible to grow on a balcony facing West in SoCal fairly near the ocean-afternnoon sun only-I would love to try try. Do you mist? Thanks!

[frank day]

08:34 PM on 07/08/2011

I would think so . Lettuce doesn't need a lot of heat or sun.

We water ours thoroughly when the soil gets dry.

Good luck !