Fickle Appetite

As winter transitions into spring, which can take a long time, here in the mountains, I find it challenging to plan menus. One day we want lighter, fresher foods, and the next chili. Only 3 days after I made an arranged salad for dinner, it snowed--6 inches! Three days ago, it never got above 20 degrees. Three days from now, it is supposed to be in the 70's.

Arranged Salad with Tahini Dressing

Using some cooked foods makes the salad seem heartier and more like a meal. For each person, arrange on a bed of washed and dried red leaf lettuce:

Simmered new potatoes

Thinly sliced red onions

Olives

Boiled egg slices

Tuna packed in olive oil

Yellow bell pepper strips

Tomato wedges

Steamed zucchini sticks

Sea salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Tahini Dressing

1 Tbsp. tahini

1 tsp. ginger paste

1 garlic clove, crushed

Juice of 1 lemon

1 Tbsp. tamari (soy) sauce

2 Tbsp. olive oil

Stir together the tahini, ginger and garlic. Stir in the lemon juice, then tamari. Finally, slowly whisk in the olive oil. Pour into a small pretty dish and serve with your arrangement. Makes enough for 2 meal size servings.