It’s time to wash away the wet weather blues with a refreshing summer salad — Mediterranean style. This healthy collection of greens takes only moments to prepare, but the taste is lasting, and the arrangement is filling. You can easily turn this from a side dish to a main dish with a few optional ingredients.  Grab a piece of crusty bread, and you have yourself a meal.

PIck me up salad   2 Roma tomatoes 1 large ripe avocado 2 green onions half a cucumber 250 ml (1 cup) chopped lettuce 2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) of Italian seasoning* 20 ml (1 1/2 tbsp) lemon juice 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil dash of salt

Dice the tomatoes, avocado, cucumber and lettuce. Chop green onion finely and, if using large lettuce leaves, cut into one-inch pieces. Throw into a bowl and sprinkle with seasonings. Squeeze juice of lemon over all, add olive oil and toss.   *If you don’t have Italian seasonings, the combination of the following herbs are generally used: marjoram, thyme, rosemary, savory, sage, oregano and basil.