HearthCooking With KidsCreative Salads

CPK’s Smoked Bacon & Gorgonzola
Chopped Salad
   
 
   
 
  • Lettuce is a member of the sunflower family.
     
  • Lettuce is known as “green gold” in California, with more than 70 percent of all lettuce grown in the U.S. sprouting from this state.
     
  • The average American eats 30 pounds of lettuce each year.
 
   
 
 
  Since the introduction of the Cobb Salad in Los Angeles in the 1920s, California has been the birthplace of some of America’s most innovative salads. In our kitchen, we take as much care and pride in creating our salads as we do our pizzas, consistently exploring adventurous, new flavors. We encourage you to do the same.

California-style salads provide new twists to traditional favorites, drawing inspiration from diverse culinary traditions – from Asian and Latin American to Caribbean and Old-world European. Eclectic flavors are combined in unique and unexpected ways, using a range of ingredients from arugula and avocado to beets and candied walnuts to create truly exciting salads.

We always are exploring fresh new flavor combinations. We believe salad shouldn’t be something you just settle for. With a little creativity, it can be just as flavorful and delicious as any of your other favorite dishes.
   
 
 
 
  • Mix things up. Try using less traditional produce, such as jicama, beets, blueberries, raspberries, asparagus tips and artichoke hearts. Explore different cheeses such as Gorgonzola or fresh buffalo mozzarella, and alternatives to croutons – maybe battered onions? Experiment with many different combinations of vegetables, herbs, fruits, nuts, cheeses and dressings. That’s how we discover our salad recipes!
     
  • Use the freshest ingredients possible.
    Take a few simple steps to ensure your fresh ingredients appear fresh when they make it to the table. For example:
    Wash your lettuce three separate times.
    • First in lukewarm water to relax the lettuce leaves and make it easier to remove any existing dirt.
       
    • Next, wash the lettuce in cold water to re-crisp the greens.
       
    • Finally, wash it in ice cold water to completely refresh the greens
      Avoid storing lettuce with apples, pears or bananas. These fruits release ethylene gas, a natural ripening agent that will cause the lettuce to develop brown spots and decay rapidly.
       
  • Savor the flavor combinations. Cutting your vegetables in smaller, equally proportioned slices will help give your chopped salad more uniformity, allowing you to experience all of the salad’s flavors in each and every bite. Make sure to dry your lettuce leaves. Salad dressing will cling better to dry leaves instead of sinking to the bottom of the bowl.