Super Summer Salads

Yeah I know, everyone's saying it's fall but technically, it's still summer. And I refuse to give up my summer salad for pumpkin lattes, pumpkin oatmeal, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pumpkin pumpkin. I love fall, but please don't rush summer by so quickly.

After reviewing all of the summer salads, I came up with a winner. One that stood out above the rest.

Salads that really tug at my stomach strings are ones that have the following combination:

• 2/3 bowlful of dark leafy greens - mild, spicy, crunchy or delicate. Give me Boston, bibb, arugula, spinach, ribboned massaged kale, chard. I'll take them all.
• The remaining 1/3 should be filled with non-lettuce veggies. But chop them small. Large rounds of cucumber or wedges of tomatoes make it hard to get a mouthful of all the different flavors in the bowl. Go for cukes, tomatoes, peppers, roasted beets, carrots or shaved fennel.
• Top with thinly sliced fruit. Plums, peaches, grapes, apples, mandarins all fare well.
• Finish off with a fried egg, a sprinkle of salt, pepper, balsamic reduction and macadamia nut oil.

I promise, this combination works every time.

Happy end of summer!