John Barrymore and Raw Vegetable Salad

"Three things a woman can make out of anything...a salad, a hat, and an argument."

Well Mr. Barrymore, you got two out of three right.  Hats and food.  But arguers are arguers.  I stopped arguing many years ago, big waste of time. And I have met many argumentative men, maybe more than women.

I do know that I can make a salad or a hat out of anything.  In the 1930's, milliners were literally making hats out of whatever was around.  Everything but the kitchen sink, from plastic dogs to dangling heart pins, sprouted on hats.  

Salads and hats are such a big part of my day.  I frequently stop working on a hat to go make a salad.  That is what I really like about working at home.  The fun thing is to pull all the veggies out of the fridge and combine as many different types and colors as you can.  When I go to Monterey Market I first visit the aisle with the organic baby vegetables.  Get one of everything.

Raw Vegetable Salad

serves 2-4 people

5 assorted colors of baby carrots, sliced lengthwise
1 baby fennel bulb, sliced thin
2-3 radishes, sliced thin
10-12 assorted baby squash, sliced
3-4 baby turnips, sliced
2 Chiogga, or yellow beets, sliced thin on a mandolin
1 Persian cucumber, sliced thin
juice of 1 lemon
1 tbs. tarragon vinegar
1 tsp. fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp. sea salt
2 handfuls of assorted baby lettuces
1 handful of dandelion greens
1/4 cup picked parsley leaves
3 tbs. olive oil
1 tbs. tarragon vinegar
sprinkle of sea salt


Mix together the carrots through the cucumber.  Marinate with the lemon juice, vinegar, thyme and salt for 30 minutes, tossing the vegetables a couple of times.  In a separate bowl mix the greens, toss with the olive oil, vinegar and sprinkle of salt.  Divide the greens among 2-4 plates and top with the marinated vegetables.

Raw vegetable salad, make it with whatever you have around...

To see the latest collection of Zazu & Violets' hats, please visit our on-line Etsy shop.