kid fun in the kitchen

I have a photo of my brother around age 2 spinning the lettuce dryer. Of course it was orange- as was the kitchen in the early seventies- but its still a great activity for kids.

Here is M drying lettuce in her spinner. The ones with the cord seem to work the best. We got ours at Target for under $10. We had a fancy one with a plunger-type mechanism that never seemed to get the lettuce dry enough.

Especially at the farmer's markets, the lettuce might have more dirt and yes, even bugs in it (there is a price to pay with organic sometimes) so washing is important to me. Though it's extra work, and generally one of my least favorite tasks, I think the taste is better than the pre-washed bags of lettuce.

Farmer's market lettuce

In the height of the summer, the lettuce is so fresh and often cheaper than in the stores. Check out mid-week markets that don't have the crowds and hassle (or "pleasant hubbub" depending on your point of view and goals for the day) of the weekend markets. There are many sites with free parking where you can get in, grab your produce and get home. Ask the farmer about how they farm. Many do not have "organic" designation, but still are passionate about farming in a safe, often chemical-free and sustainable way.

I soak the lettuce several times in cold water and have M spin it dry and poor out the water until there is no grit. Then I keep it in the spinner in my fridge if I have room, or put in a veggie bag and use it over a few days, so at least I wash once only. M is still  bit wary of lettuce, but sometimes she will eat it (especially the paler leaves.) She enjoys all the goodies that go on the salad, like tomatoes, cucumbers, Craisins... so we give her a larger share of those, and a few lettuce leaves which she may or may not eat.

We just planted our first-ever lettuce in a window-box in the back yard. I'll keep you posted!

Happy Spinning!