SALADS is the first book in the series - Annie's Elegant, Delicious Cooking... I wrote this series of books to help people who enjoy cooking and entertaining to prepare visually appealing and mouthwateringly delicious dishes in their own kitchens from food and produce available in an average American supermarket. All of the recipes in this series are those I use everyday for my family and guests. While my formal culinary training is based on French and Asian cooking, the focus of SALADS, and the other books in this series is Contemporary American Cooking: dishes that combine the flavors, textures and appearances of a variety of regional and national cuisines, but use familiar, locally available ingredients... Around the world, salads appear on the table in varying combinations and at different times of the meal. In American restaurants and homes, salads are often the starting course for a dinner, but in French, Italian and other European cuisines, salads often appear towards the middle or end of a dinner service. Some of the salads in this volume are intended as lunch or dinner main courses; with others, the addition of sliced chicken, shrimp or meats can transform a basic salad into an easy to prepare, hearty meal... A salad bowl is the perfect canvas for experimentation and creativity. Once you've mastered the basics, try personalizing my salads with your favorite garnishes or additions. Have fun with these elegant, delicious salads.