Kentucky Proud lettuce...

Nothing else is close.

Kentucky Proud lettuce is available in May and June, and again in September and early October.

Selecting Kentucky Proud lettuce.

Select fresh, young, tender lettuce with a healthy color.  Lettuce should be crisp, not wilted.

Storing Kentucky Proud lettuce.

Wash lettuce several times in water, removing the bruised leaves.  Pat them dry with a paper towel and store in the refrigerator in a plastic bag or a clean towel.    Lettuce will keep three or four days when refrigerated.

A Kentucky Proud favorite...Almond Bibb Salad.

You'll need:

1 head Kentucky Proud Bibb or romaine lettuce, torn

1/4 head Kentucky Proud iceberg lettuce, torn

1/3 cup thinly sliced Kentucky Proud celery

2 Kentucky Proud green onions, thinly sliced

1/4 cup soybean oil

2 tablespoons sugar, or an equivalent amount of sugar substitute

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon snipped Kentucky Proud fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon red pepper sauce

1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted

1 Kentucky Proud red onion, sliced (optional)

Place the Bibb lettuce, iceberg lettuce, celery and green onions in a large sealable plastic bag.  Seal the bag.  Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.  Mix the soybean oil, sugar, wine vinegar, parsley, salt and red pepper sauce in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.  Chill, covered, until ready to serve.  To serve, pour the dressing over the lettuce mixture and seal the bag.  Shake the bag well to coat.  Arrange the lettuce mixture on individual salad plates.  Top with mandarin oranges, almonds and red onion slices.

Yields 6 servings.

Note:  Bibb lettuce was developed by Major John Bibb in the backyard of his home, "Grey Gables", now known as the Bibb-Burnley House in Frankfort.  He moved to Frankfort in 1856 and shared his seeds and plants with friends.  Soon it became known as Bibb lettuce.  It was first commercially produced in 1935. 

 

Recipe from the "Pride of Kentucky" cookbook, published by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

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Check out other great Kentucky Proud recipes.