Darina Allen: Theo Kirwin has fresh salad ideas in the Sprout & Co cookbook

"They chose not to take the easy route, they decided to make everything from scratch, dressings, sauces and dips were and still are prepared daily."

Theo Kirwin's Crispy Dukkah Spiced Chickpeas

A chunky brown paper parcel has just arrived on my desk via the ever reliable snail mail. Who doesn’t love the anticipation of opening a parcel, but how about this for perfect timing? 

It’s a cookbook entitled Sprout Saladology, packed from cover to cover with photos and recipes for the most beautiful salads you could imagine, all made with delicious fresh ingredients.
Just in time, I’ve got lots of gorgeous fresh produce at present, the garden and greenhouses are bursting with new season vegetables and masses of fresh leafy herbs, radishes, beets, spring onions and cabbages even the first of the fresh peas.