Jolly Chef House Salad

Chef notes

This is the quintessential, Midwestern-style house salad you'll get at a great diner or a cozy, family-style restaurant. Modest as it is, it lingered in the minds of the men of the 106th Infantry Division, even as they faced starvation and imprisonment. There's a particular nostalgia in the combination of crisp iceberg lettuce and grated cheddar cheese, while chopped vegetables, brightened with lemon and olive oil, make it feel fresh and full of life. The homemade thousand island dressing offers far more depth and complexity than anything you'll find in a bottle; it keeps well, so feel free to double the recipe and store the leftovers in a jar in the fridge.