I grew up with a strawberry-loving mom. She would just shake her head and say, “well, more for me then” while popping a plump red berry in her mouth. It’s not that I hate strawberries. To quote my never-admit-to-not-liking-anything, farm-raised Dad, “I just really don’t prefer them.”

Give me blueberries any ‘ole day.

Now, I do enjoy some strawberry-ish things. My Nebraska mom-in-law makes a mean strawberry-rhubarb jam (she grows both in her garden) and a snappy strawberry salsa once surprised me at a BBQ. But, when the dictate came down for this month’s blogger theme, I groaned inwardly (and, Adam tells me, also outwardly) and struggled valiantly (yes, really) to overcome my, um, “preferences.”

I marched to the farmer’s market, determined to buy some berries and bite the bullet.

I even took this picture:

Lovely Maine strawberries from the Farmer's Market

But, I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t.

Instead, when this sign caught my eye, I got thoroughly distracted:

Simple recipe for a wonderful summer salad.

I purchased a beautiful batch of curly kale and crisp bok choi, marched back home and made what has fast become a favorite simple summer salad.

Give it a try!