THE MOTHER OF ALL SUMMER SALADS AND THE BEST SALAD TIP EVER!

I was sitting here last week reading a post about how it is National Strawberry Month and realized that not only do I have a great recipe that involves strawberries, but it just happens to be the "mother of all summer salads".  I should probably not be keeping this to myself any longer.  Seriously...check it out!  It looks (and tastes) like a dessert!  It's the only salad I know of that is really good, even without the dressing! Bonus...you can make this a day ahead of time too!

When my sister Amber gave me this recipe she said, "Guys and kids LOVE this salad, Danni!"  Then she told me the best salad tip I've ever received. I'm going to share that with you too in just a minute and you will not want to miss it because it's one of those tips that makes you say, "Duh!  Makes perfect sense!"  
But first, let's look at that amazingly easy coconut dressing, shall we?
It's only three ingredients and so very tasty!

 Pretty simple right?  Keeps forever in the fridge too, but you'll need to bring it to room temp before you use it because that cream of coconut gets thick when it's cold.  You can microwave it for 15 seconds at 50% power to thin it out if you're in a hurry.

Now....let's break down that salad and look at all the goodness that is involved.

What's not to love, right?  I didn't put quantities because it really doesn't matter.  Put as much or as little of any of these ingredients as you like!  (I've also added blueberries, when I have them.)
And now, I'm going to share my sister's awesome salad tip with you.....are you ready??
SERVE YOUR SALADS IN A 13X9 DISH!  Seriously, it looks gorgeous, because you can see all of the ingredients better, AND, everyone gets a little bit of everything, because the good stuff doesn't fall to the bottom of a bowl.  It's also easier to travel with if you are taking it somewhere.  If you have a lid for your 13X9, then it fits perfectly in the bottom of a cooler and you can stack stuff on top of it.  Is that brilliant or what?  Take a look at this salad when it's all stretched out in an oblong dish....

 

When you put your lettuce in the bottom and everything else is sprinkled on top, you don't need to toss it.  You can dress this right before you serve it.  I have been known to sprinkle toasted coconut on right after I dress it.
This is my summer "go-to" salad for picnics and barbeques.  Like I said...it looks and tastes like dessert!  Don't you just want a bite right now?

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