The good old summertime! Time to relax and celebrate warm Illinois weather, grillin’ and chillin’ with family and friends. Nowadays, casual get-together etiquette requires everyone to pitch in and bring a delicious dish. Some pass-and-share favorites include fried chicken, creamy potato salad, and plenty of gooey brownies and chocolate chip cookies.
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So what’s in your picnic basket? I recommend bringing a refreshing salad spotlighting the season’s best veggies. Something light and healthy to balance heavy, traditional picnic fare. Go ahead and show off your locally grown sweet bell peppers, crisp cucumbers and vine-ripened tomatoes. And if you need inspiration, check out these four crowd-pleasing, go-to summer salads. Each takes only minutes to prepare and incorporates seasonal vegetables and grab-and-go ingredients, making them perfect for impromptu parties or unexpected guests.
If you’re out to impress guests, try serving Seven-Layer Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing. I gave this classic potluck dish a healthy makeover by preparing the dressing with nonfat Greek yogurt and serving it on the side. Sometimes I swap diced ham or chicken for the bacon. Not a Greek yogurt fan? Go ahead and serve it with your favorite salad dressing, but let guests help themselves and drizzle it on afterward to avoid a soggy salad.
