When I run out of ideas, I picture all the fixins at a salad bar (preferably all you can eat
), & look around my pantry for things to add too. How about a steak salad, crumbled blue cheese, tomatoes, red onions, scallions, a seafood salad, shrimp, crab etc. Add in things like avacado, fruits - mandarin oranges, raisins, melons, garbanzos, bean sprouts, beets, assorted shredded cheeses, artichoke hearts, cottage cheese, banana chips, coconut, strawberries, proscuitto, water chestnuts, alfafa sprouts, roast beef, chicken, tuna - any leftovers.
I also like cold sesame noodles - any cold pasta salad will do. Other additions, peanuts, sunflower seeds. grapes, different dressings, asian, cole slaw - any new flavor you haven't tried. Toss in different herbs, spinach or basil leaves instead of lettuce, carrot raisin salad, shredded cabbage. Add some flavored home-made croutons or serve w garlic bread & soup (clam chowder, tomato) -- guess I could go on & on.