April is the perfect month to enjoy the first salad greens from the garden. This salad is made from the greens that grow best when the weather is cool and the ground is just beginning to warm. You can easily start the seeds for the greens in early April and be tasting a fresh salad in less than 4 weeks. If you are able to add a low hoop house to your backyard raised bed, then you can begin your seeds even with the prediction of snow or frost in the weather. Planting roszponka (lambs’ lettuce), radishes, kale, butter lettuce, Swiss chard, and spinach are a few ideas for cold weather growing. 

 

Ingredients:

2 Cups fresh green mix such as spinach, arugula, and lettuce

4 Radishes, sliced

1 Carrot, diced

1 Celery rib, diced

1 Small cucumber, sliced

1/4 Cup goat cheese crumbles (optional)

 

Dressing Ingredients:

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 Tbsp spicy mustard

1 Garlic clove, minced

1 Tbsp Fresh lemon juice

1/4 Tsp Himalayan salt

1/4 Tsp cracked pepper

 

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, spicy mustard, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. In a medium size bowl, lightly toss salad vegetable ingredients. Lightly drizzle with salad dressing. 

 

Serves 2 side salads or 1 meal-sized salad.  

 

Article courtesy of Tiffany Hinton, GF Mom Certified. Connect with Tiffany online at @gfmomcertified and listen to Tiffany's podcast Cultivating Guts on Spotify or iTunes.  Visit CultivatingGuts.com for online gardening classes or to schedule a consultation with Tiffany to plan your 2022 garden.