Set Up a Salad Bar
Creating a salad bar is a great way to serve a simple meal for the family, but it can also serve as a fun dinner for guests. You can choose from a variety of greens, vegetables, fruits, meats and dressings. Setting up the bar is simple--you just need a table, some bowls and all your favorite fresh ingredients.
Instructions
1. Cover your table or bar with a table cloth, if desired, and determine which direction you would like for your guests to flow through the bar.
2. Put enough plates for each guest at the beginning of the bar. You can put your forks, knives and napkins here as well, or leave them at the end of the bar.
3. Chop, wash and dry your greens, then place them in the large bowl. Choose a variety including romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, field greens and maybe even arugula. Place the bowl at the beginning of the table after the plates with the serving tongs nearby.
4. Prep your vegetable toppings by washing and chopping, slicing or shredding them before putting each in a small bowl for serving. Consider toppings such as carrots, mushrooms, cucumbers, red onions, green peppers, banana peppers, black olives and cherry tomatoes.
5. Arrange your meat and shredded cheeses in small bowls. Keep the selection simple. You should have more vegetable selections than meat and cheese. Consider chopped turkey, sliced hardboiled eggs, bacon bits and cheddar cheese. Cooked beans are a great meat alternative.
6. Place your vegetable bowls on the bar after the greens. Follow this by your meats and cheeses. Provide a spoon with each topping.
7. Set out bottles of store-bought dressing or bowls of homemade dressings next. Good choices include Ranch, French, Caesar, a vinaigrette and olive oil along with balsamic vinegar. Include a salt and pepper shaker, as well.
8. Provide some extras by filling bowls with fruits, nuts, seeds and croutons. Consider dried cranberries, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds and garlic croutons. Set these bowls on the bar with a spoon after the meats and cheeses.
9. Allow family members and guests to go through the bar line and create the salad of their choice.
Tags: bowls with, meats cheeses, your vegetable