Every week, Alex Guarnaschelli, host of Alex’s Day Off, shares with readers what she’s eating — whether it’s from the farmers’ market or fresh off the boat, she’ll have you craving everything from comfort food to seasonal produce.

If you had asked me to make this salad combination a few years ago, I would have been horrified. Ginger and tomatoes may seem natural to some people, but to a closet Francophile, the ginger feels like a senseless crime against tomatoes. It took eating a salad with these elements to convince me I was wrong. I never considered the almost-spicy heat that ginger contains. I love fresh chiles with the sweetness of tomatoes and how ginger functions in virtually the same way. Celery also offers an amazing crunchy texture.

What kind of tomatoes do I use? I love all tomatoes and buy whatever looks best. I will admit, I particularly love Sungold tomatoes — they are so sweet and have a great texture.

Get the recipe for Alex’s Tomato and Ginger Salad »

Ina takes a classic salad and seasons it perfectly with good olive oil, salt and pepper. For an eye-catching presentation, purchase tomatoes in yellow, orange and green hues.

Get the recipe: Tomato, Mozzarella and Basil Salad

Browse more of Food Network’s Labor Day recipes.