Don't Tell Us We Can't Have Our Salads in Winter

For ardent locavores (like us) salads in the colder months can be challenging. Not so much if we avail ourselves of our northern neighbor Canada's hothouse and hydroponic tomatoes, not to mention hearty snow-resistant greens like chicory, escarole and tender baby kales. We add Winter Whites via Maytag bleu cheese or Roquefort and boost protein with rib-sticking stewed chickpeas on the side.

Regardless of the season we Northeasterners must rely on shipped avocados. Why not celebrate the fruit's utter lusciousness with just a simple dressing of aged Balsamic and Maldon salt flakes?