Salad days: growing in judgment with Lidl's readymades

In these posts, I have expressed at least one desire to be Cleopatra; who wouldn’t want to bathe in asses’ milk – good for the skin, they say – walk upon rose petals and lie, wrapped in gold tissue, upon a purple and golden barge that floats down the Nile, while flutes play in time to the rhythm of silver oars? While I don’t fancy getting up close and personal with an asp, I have lately been becoming “green in judgement” with the Lidl range of salads. Baby Leaf and Rocket is what it says on the package, peppery rocket blended with mild, baby red leaves. Italian Salad is a blend of five leaves. Lollo Rosso is mild, with “robust flavour on red tips.” Red multileaf is “crunchy, light and mild in flavour.” Baby leaf spinach is soft to eat and has a delicate flavour, and lamb’s lettuce is tender, light and delicious. Apollo (what a name!) is a green “frilly” leaf that is mild in taste, while endive is crunchy and bitter. There you have it; two different salads, each one an orchestra of texture and flavour. All washed and ready to eat, and at around about a pound for 150g of leaf (five helpings in a pack), you won’t need a pharaoh’s ransom to get one of your five a day.