*sniff*

*wipe a tear*

Popeye would be proud.

:p

It looks yummy. The dressing sounds fantastic. I love a simple dressing. But you really don't feel like you're cooking when you make a salad? Try this method:

Step one: Choose several standard veggies at the grocer and one that looks interesting. Think of cutting them. What shapes can you create? Think of the color scheme. How will they look together? And, naturally, think of taste. How will it blend with my dressing? The items don't have to mesh in tase with themselves (most people usually eat a salad with only one or two items on their fork at a time) but it helps if at least the majority of the flavors blend nicely.

Step two: Put on some tunes when you get home... something funky with a good baseline, something that makes your hips sway all on their own

Step three: Have fun slicing and chopping. Don't settle for bland, evereyday nonsense. Sure you can cut bell peppers in strips. Almost everyone can. But can you make odd, obtuse paralelograms that look good with starfruit rings? Try different cutting techniques. Look up a few on the web. Read about them in your cookbook.

Step four: Arrange everything in different manners. Set things up by colors or by tastes. I say that half of making a salad interesting is in how it's presented.

Step five: Dressing. You've got this one down, it seems. If half of making a salad interesting is in the presentation then one of the remaining quarters is in the dressing. Make. Your. Own. Try something new... something that smells good, that wafts up from your salad a bit and says in a seductive voice, "Put me in your mouth... s_l_o_w_l_y baby."

Step Six: Finishing touches. Add a little cheese, a good cheese, an interesting chees. If you're worried about it clashing with the dressing then serve it on the side. Add a few thin slices of meat on the side... salami, hot prosciutto, or soft chunks of slow rosted and marinated chicken. Bread on the side and fresh ground pepper is almost always a nice touch.

Step Seven: Mix a drink with it. Think of the dressing. What would go down good with it? Maybe you used a little wine in the dressing and it would go well with the salad. Maybe the dressing is spicy and a little spiced rum and coke would do the trick. You used a little amaretto or kahlua in the dressing? Make a drink to match. But always have a glass of water on hand to cleanse the palatte a bit as well.

Step Eight: Keep the music on the whole time and dance while you do the dishes... though be careful with the knife.