What Exactly Is Soft-Serve Ice Cream?

Plus, recipes to up your salad game. [START FREE TRIAL]( or [LOG IN]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [FIND RECIPES ›]( August 4, 2023 [A collection of recipes from this newsletter]( [A collection of recipes from this newsletter]( What’s New at ATK [Soft-Serve Ice Cream]( What Exactly Is Soft-Serve Ice Cream? How is it different from the scoopable stuff? And what about frozen custard and frozen yogurt? [Find out more about your favorite frozen treats. →]( Why Does My Ice Taste Bad Sometimes? Have you ever had a glass of ice water with a truly weird, unappealing taste? You’re not imagining it.[Learn why some ice tastes so weird and how to avoid it. →]( A Note From Our Test Cooks [Spinach and Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing; CHRISTIE MORRISON's Headshot]( Upping Your Salad Game From Christie Morrison, Executive Editor, Video and Cooking School When markets are flush with summer produce, even a simple green salad of local lettuces can be a treat. I like to use a mix of lettuces such as red or green leaf and delicate Bibb and make sure the leaves are clean and dry. I’ll rub a clove of garlic around the salad bowl for just a hint of garlic flavor, and then I toss the greens with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and extra-virgin olive oil (this is the time to break out the good stuff). So easy and delicious. But if you want to up your salad game beyond basic greens, here are a few ideas. Add some fruit. In summer, blueberries, sliced strawberries, or stone fruit like peaches or nectarines are fantastic in a green salad such as our [Spinach and Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing](. Or, dress up a grain salad like we do in this hearty [Wheat Berry Salad with Blueberries and Goat Cheese](. It’s great for lunch or dinner and it looks as good as it tastes. Or eschew a “salad” base altogether and combine [peaches and tomatoes]( for an unforgettable summer salad. Add a different crunch. If croutons are your go-to way to add crunch to a salad, try something new. A simpler topping is called pangrattato: sauté fresh breadcrumbs or crisp panko in olive oil with garlic until golden and then finish with grated parmesan cheese. It adds great flavor and a subtle crunch to a salad—from a kale Caesar to our [Tomato and Burrata Salad with Pangrattato and Basil](. Add something pickled. You can make pickled onions using our [go-to recipe]( or simply soak sliced shallots in seasoned rice vinegar to add a bright, sweet-sour flavor to any salad. But don’t stop there. My girl Ashley Moore developed a host of recipes for quick-pickled vegetables—from [carrots]( and [fennel]( to [giardiniera](. You can pickle fruit too. Pickled grapes add a punch of flavor to this [grain bowl]( but they’d be great added to your next [asparagus salad](. The easiest way to add flavor to your salads is to incorporate fresh herbs. Many of us use the warm months to garden, and whether that looks like a truck patch, raised bed, container garden, or just a few pots on your porch, you’re probably growing some basil or mint. While my herbs are thriving, I pluck a few leaves and add them to any salad I’m making. The punch of herb flavor adds complexity and freshness and just makes things taste like summer. Members get every recipe, review, and video. Get instant access to everything from the most trusted cooking experts. [Start your 2-week free trial](. Salad Inspiration [Spinach and Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing →]( [Farro Bowl with Vegetables and Sausage →]( [Tomato and Burrata Salad with Pangrattato and Basil →]( Add Pickled Veggies [Pickled Red Onions →]( [Quick Carrot Pickles →]( [Spicy Pickled Radishes →]( New Salad Recipes from Around ATK [Zucchini Ribbon Greek-Style Salad →]( [Crispy Smashed Potato Salad →]( [Cucumber Salad with Smoked Salmon and Capers →]( [Succeed Every Time you Cook. Try Digital All Access. 14,000+ Reliable Recipes, Free Shipping in Our Shop, Mobile App, 8,000+ Product Reviews, Cookbook Collection. Unlock the secret to perfect melty indoor s'mores and more test kitchen tips. Get 14 Days Free. S'mores Bars.]( [Bread-and-Butter Pickles]( From Our Online Cooking School Bread-and-Butter Pickles Elle Simone Scott shows you how to make perfect Bread-and-Butter Pickles at home every time. 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