An ongoing issue at my house is the fact that I do not like salad. There, I said it, and believe me when I tell you that I have not made friends with salad. Unfortunately, my most manly and handsome husband thrives on eating salads, and makes an attempt every night to get me to eat one. It isn't a hate for salads, or even the ingredients that go into one, but just the word...salad.

On a recent hectic and empty fridge evening, the dreaded "S" word came up in conversation. "Come on", he said, "no", I replied. "Please? For me?" How could I say no to the big, brown puppy dog eyes. With lightening speed, and a vengeance that was like no ones business, I tore apart our dismal fridge and came out with a carrot, a very sad looking bunch of cilantro, a handful of walnuts and sunflower seeds and the remnants of Zoe's bowl of raisins.

Before Doug could pour me a very large glass of wine from the box, I had concocted a miracle. Behold, the grated carrot salad.

My red heirloom carrot, grated and mixed with chopped cilantro, roasted walnuts and sunflower seeds and those pesky raisins. Add a vinaigrette of honey, olive oil and white wine vinegar, S&P and you have yourself one gorgeous salad. Simple, fresh, delicious and dirt cheap!