Salad Sunday

Yesterday, I played medical school student for the day...all celebration and no hard work though. Walking into the Medical Biomolecular Research Building with the rods of Asclepius looming over the entrance, I had to catch my breath...this is all real now.

One of my new classmates described Second Look as the first day of Kindergarten, and it was a perfect metaphor. I feel like I'm not one who is usually awkward, but I definitely didn't really know what to do with myself as we all stood in the lobby. I thought, "Should I just jump into a group or start talking to another awkward loner? Will my interviewers from the application process remember me, and should I thank them? Gosh, when will the programming start so I can just sit and listen?" The day ended up being so perfect. Walking around Chapel Hill and UNC, I felt like I was getting to know an old friend again. I'm so excited for the Fall!

A few weeks ago, when the temperatures were frigid and no blue skies were in sight, my food guru and I discussed what I should do about Soup Sunday when the weather warms up. Let's face it; no one wants split pea soup when it's 80 degrees. While Gazpacho is delicious, do I really want to have a different kind of cold soup every week of the summer? Heck no!

We came to the conclusion that Soup Sunday can transform into Salad Sunday with the warmer season. While I'm not completely finished with Soup Sunday, I am going to try the new theme in honor of the immaculate weather we all enjoyed in North Carolina this weekend.

Garden Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper
4 cups Organic Herb Salad Mix**

Combine first 7 ingredients; stir with a wire whisk until blended.  Cover and chill at least 2 hours.  Serve with greens.

**Some things are worth the splurge at the grocery store; this is one of them.  The combination of delicous lettuce, spinach, and herbs makes this salad easy and tasty.  You won't need other fixins with the herb mix**