Salad city – With its relaxed vibe and steamy climes, summer is a great time to adapt a new supper paradigm.

With its relaxed vibe and steamy climes, summer is a great time to adapt a new supper paradigm. Lose the confines of the protein-starch-veggie format and forget the hot oven. Instead, adapt a weekly salad night. The possibilities for inventive salads are endless, and if you select the right flavors, you can satisfy both hungry adults and finicky children. Best of all, the preparation for most salads is minimal, and many of them use on-hand ingredients. Once they’re ready, arrange the salads on a buffet and allow your family or friends to help themselves. Here are 10 ideas for summer salads that will leave you and yours refreshed and satisfied.

• Spinach salad with smoked local bacon, strawberries, Ryal’s Goat Diary feta and walnuts
• Roasted beets tossed with Red Stick Spice olive oil and chopped fresh mint
• Free range local chicken salad with diced celery, apples and Ruston peaches
• Fresh cantaloupe with bits of salami or torn prosciutto
• Blanched green beans or carrots with spicy peanut dipping sauce
• Frisée with poached eggs and lardons, tossed in lemon vinaigrette
• Fresh sliced tomatoes drizzled with basil pesto vinaigrette
• Cold crab salad with mayo and fresh lime
• Grilled corn on the cob slathered with homemade aioli
• Chopped salad with crunchy greens, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, good quality turkey or ham and a nice nutty cheese such as Robusto