Pizza Salad — Quiet Days, a Full Fridge, and Gratitude for the Simple Things

Between-week. Kids at home, scattered at friends. Gayle quiet.

New Year's Eve: East Coast. Bed at 10.

2026. Amber graduates UNK in May. Tyler sophomore at SCC. Justin at JBS. Josie freshman at GISH. Brenda turns 49 in August.

2026 intentions: love everyone. Keep Gayle close. Scout diner. Book 3 maybe. Keep driving. Keep writing.

That quiet between-week — kids scattered, Gayle nearby, the calendar almost turned — is exactly when I stop trying to cook and start just assembling. I had pepperoni, some olives, a block of mozzarella, and a bag of romaine sitting in the fridge, all of it left over from holiday spreads no one quite finished, and this Pizza Salad came together in about ten minutes. It felt like the right meal for the mood: no fuss, no fanfare, just good flavors that didn’t need the new year to start in order to feel like a fresh beginning.

Pizza Salad

Prep Time: 10 min | Cook Time: 0 min | Total Time: 10 min | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped (about 8 cups)
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cup sliced black olives
• 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni, halved
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1/4 cup sliced banana peppers
• 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella pearls (or cubed mozzarella)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Italian dressing (store-bought or homemade)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• Croutons for topping (optional)

Instructions

1. Prep the greens. Wash and thoroughly dry the romaine, then chop into bite-sized pieces and place in a large salad bowl.
2. Add the toppings. Layer the cherry tomatoes, black olives, pepperoni, green bell pepper, banana peppers, and mozzarella over the romaine.
3. Season. Sprinkle the dried oregano and red pepper flakes evenly over the salad.
4. Dress and toss. Drizzle the Italian dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is evenly coated. Start with about 1/3 cup and add more to taste.
5. Finish and serve. Top with grated Parmesan and croutons if using. Serve immediately for the best texture.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 290 | Protein: 12g | Fat: 22g | Carbs: 10g | Fiber: 3g | Sodium: 820mg