Summer Recipes: A Filling Salad and a Soothing Glass of Wine

Not all meals require turning on the oven or stove in the hot summer heat, nor do salads have to be the same bland and boring blends you’ve been eating for years.

Adding a mixture of spicy and soft cheese tastes to the bowl creates a mouth-watering sensation.

This mixed greens delight requires the following ingredients:

1 bag of mixed greens

6 ounce bag of cheese garlic croutons

5 ounces of goat cheese

1/4 block of Parmesan cheese

1 bottle of vinaigrette dressing

This recipe serves two people. Double, triple, quadruple or perform any other calculations you need to serve more!

Divide the salad up as a side dish for a meal, or make a big bowl to serve to everyone at your next big summer barbecue.

Directions are as follows:

Pour the bag of mixed greens into a large bowl. Don’t fear if it does not look like enough food to feed two people at first – once you bulk it up with the cheeses and dressing, there will be plenty.

Cut the goat cheese into small pieces and toss them together with the mixed greens.

One of the best parts of preparing food is that most recipes can be altered to adhere to your personal tastes. If you like your salad filled with crunch, pour in the whole bag of cheese garlic croutons. Using these types of croutons will give a kick to the salad and add some contrast to the goat and Parmesan cheese, so we do recommend using all of them. However, if croutons are not your style, place in as many as your palette desires. For a mixed crowd of croutonphiles and croutonphobics, just add them to a side bowl and let diners add as they please.

Pour about 3/4 of the bottle of vinaigrette dressing into the bowl. If you put in more than that, the croutons at the bottom are going to get quite soggy.

Toss all of the ingredients together.

Shred approximately 1/4 of the block of Parmesan cheese to the top of the salad and serve it right away.

While your mind might not automatically turn to red wine as an appropriate drink to go along with a salad, your mouth will be pleased if you go down that route.

Try a glass of Bella Domenica from Pugliese Vineyards in Cutchogue. This aromatic blend works as the perfect pair to the cheeses embedded in the salad.

There are lots of places in Merrick to get these ingredients, making for a quick and easy dinner. Head to Stop & Shop or Waldbaums for your greenery, croutons and dressing, while fresh cheeses can be found at Trader Joe's and Pat's Farms.

For a great selection of red wine, Ace's Wines and Spirits on Merrick Avenue or Merrick Road Spirits on Merrick Road are the places to go.