Thursday, May 27, 2021

Krista Davis Comes Through Again with Diva No. 14

 


Falling in love with a cozy mystery series can be the proverbial double-edged sword. On the one hand, I get all excited when I get the latest edition. It’s like catching up with old friends you haven’t seen in a long while. 

However, there is always the risk of the newest installment not living up to the previous books. We cozy mystery fans have all experienced the decline in a well-loved series. It starts when we come to the end of a book and think, “Hum, that wasn’t as enjoyable as I’d hoped.” 

Thank goodness that hasn’t happened with Krista Davis’s Domestic Diva series! 


I just finished reading The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit, number 14 in the series, and I loved it! In this edition, event organizer and domestic advice expert Sophie Winston is in the middle of Old Town Alexandria’s Home Decorating Festival. Still, she has time to pick up her best friend, Nina, at the airport after she returns from a trip to Portugal. However, when Sophie finds one of Nina’s traveling companions dead the following morning, she wonders just what went on during that trip. Perhaps the clue scratched into the soil by the victim before dying will hold the answer. 

While the story takes place in the well-known Washington D.C. suburb, it has some international intrigue and a possible smuggling operation woven into the plot. When another traveler turns up dead, Sophie worries her friend is next on the list. 

The book was enthralling from the first paragraph to the last. There was a surprise at the end, which made me both laugh out loud and cheer. Plus, it was lovely to catch up on all the goings-on with Sophie, Nina, Mars, Bernie, Humphrey, and of course, Natasha, the other domestic diva in the book who antagonizes everyone. 

Natasha doesn’t have as prominent a role in this book as the previous ones, which I found to be a relief. She is pretty annoying, though Davis is good at giving her some redeeming qualities to keep us from wondering why Sophie remains her friend. Still, it was nice to only have her pop in from time to time as part of an entertaining subplot to the main story. 

Of course, the book also ends with some tasty recipes. I can’t wait to try the Mango Peach Salsa, Chocolate Mayonnaise Cupcakes, and Pear Upside-Down Skillet Cake. 


Since it’s the start of berry season, I made the Berry Pecan Coffee Cake. Buttery and full of blueberries, it’s the perfect partner to my morning cup of coffee. 


To learn more about Davis, visit her website here. She also has a Paws and Claws series that is perfect for animal lovers, and a Pen and Ink series for the artist in all of us. 

You don’t have to read the Domestic Diva series in order, but if that’s your style, the first one is The Diva Runs Out of Thyme.

Other recipes from Krista Davis's mysteries I have posted about in the past include:



Garden Veggie White Pizza from The Diva Digs Up the Dirt









Sunset Boulevard Cocktail, also from The Diva Digs Up the Dirt








Cinnamon-Pumpkin Muffins from Murder, She Barked





Yield: 9
Author: Linda Ditch
Berry Pecan Coffee Cake

Berry Pecan Coffee Cake

Adapted from a recipe found in The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit by Krista Davis, who gave permission for me to share this recipe. It is easy to make and perfect for breakfast or an afternoon tea break. Make sure to take the butter and eggs out of the fridge ahead of time to allow them to reach room temperature.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 stick (8 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 packed cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • For topping:
  • 1/2 cup pecans
  • 3 Tablespoons softened butter
  • 2 Tablespoons dark brown sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place the pecans on a baking sheet and toast for 5 to 6 minutes or until fragrant. Set aside.
  2. Lightly grease a 9-inch-square pan and line with a piece of parchment paper cut to fit but with the sides long enough to lift the finished cake out of the pan.
  3. Place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon into a bowl. Mix with a whisk or a fork to combine. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, cream the butter with the sugars with a mixer. Add the eggs and beat until combined. Then alternate adding the flour mixture with the applesauce, beating between each addition, until smooth. Fold in the blueberries. Spoon the batter into the prepared baking dish.
  5. To make the topping, chop the pecans and combine them with the butter and brown sugar until combined. Sprinkle in lumps over the top of the cake batter. (The topping will melt and sink while baking.)
  6. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until the center is set and a cake tester comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, and then remove it to a wire rack to cool for another 10 minutes or so. Serve the cake warm.
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Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Summer Fun in Wichita


Photo credit: Visit Wichita

It seems a lot of us are anxious to hit the road this summer. I don't know about you, but I want to spend time exploring any place that is not my house! LOL! Best of all, you don't have to plan a big, expensive vacation when the fun is right down the road. In my case, it's just a couple of hours down the Kansas Turnpike to Wichita.

Starting Memorial Day weekend, Visit Wichita will launch two tours that not only allow visitors to explore the city's many sites but also some of its best brews. 

The all-new Wichita Attractions Tour allows visitors to discover the many world-class attractions and museums in the city and get entered into a drawing to win a 2022 family season pass or membership to all 12 participating attractions, as well as one Wichita Wind Surge home baseball game of your choosing. The participating attractions include Botanica Wichita, Exploration Place, Field Station: Dinosaurs, Kansas Aviation Museum, Mid-America All-Indian Museum, Museum of World Treasures, Old Cowtown Museum, Sedgwick County Zoo, Tanganyika Wildlife Park, The Kansas African American Museum, Wichita Art Museum, and Wichita-Sedgwick Co. Historical Museum.

Old Cowtown Museum
Photo Credit: Visit Wichita

To participate, you can pick up a passport at Visit Wichita's visitor's center or any of the participating attractions and museums and begin exploring from May 28 to Labor Day, September 6. Once you visit at least six participating locations, turn in your passport to Visit Wichita (in person or by mail, 515 S. Main St., Ste. 115) by September 13 to be entered into the drawing. A winner will be drawn on September 17, 2021. You can find complete details and contest rules a www.visitwichita.com/attractions-tour

For us beer and coffee lovers, the other tour is the return of the Wicked Brew Tour, featuring some of the city's top breweries and coffee shops. This tour started in 2016 but had to skip last year due to…well, you know why. We all know why!

You pick up a passport at any participating coffee shop or brewery and then collect at least ten stamps to complete the challenge and win a t-shirt (available on a first-come, first-served basis). 

Photo credit: Visit Wichita

Participating breweries include Augustino Brewing Company, Central Standard Brewing, Hopping Gnome Brewing Company, Nortons Brewing Co., PourHouse by Walnut River Brewing, River City Brewing Co., Sweet Allie B's Limestone Beer Co., Third Place Brewing, and Wichita Brewing Co. & Pizzeria (West & East).

The participating coffee shops are Churn & Burn (Northeast & Southeast), Cocoa Dolce Chocolates (East, West & Downtown), Fairmount Coffee Co., Il Primo Espresso (East & Downtown), Kookaburra Coffee, Leslie Coffee Co., Placeholder Coffee, Reverie Coffee Roasters, Sunflower Espresso & Food Truck, and The Donut Whole.



You turn in the completed passport and pick up a t-shirt at the Visit Wichita visitor's center Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you can't make it there before you head home, just mail your completed passport and contact information to the visitor's center to have a shirt sent to you. 

The complete details and contest rules can be found at www.visitwichita.com/restaurants/local-flavor/wicked-brew-tour



Photo credit: Visit Wichita
Growing up, I visited my great-aunt and great-uncle in Wichita a few times. I remember their red-brick bungalow house with its big front porch, complete with a swing, and the cherry trees in the backyard. However, we never did any of the tourist-type activities.

I'm looking forward to exploring the city and sharing what I find with you. 

Stay tuned!


Thursday, May 20, 2021

Morning Starts with The Roasterie

Does this sound familiar: The alarm goes off way too early in the morning. As you remain snuggled in your cozy bed thinking of all the excuses you have for not getting up, one thing emits its siren song to lure you into starting the day—that first cup of coffee. Knowing its rich, delicious, comforting goodness awaits in that first sip convinces you to get going with hope for the morning.

Okay, I know, it’s just a cup of coffee. But those of us who love it tend to wax poetically about the magical powers the perfect grind can provide. I didn’t start out as a coffee lover. Tea was my beverage of choice until my late 30s when flavored creamers became popular. Those creamers also helped mask the flavor of the, well, let’s just say, less-costly brands of coffee I was familiar with in those early days.

Today, I stir a little sugar and milk into coffees offered by area roasters. The ones made by The Roasterie in Kansas City are my favorites. I buy bags of the American Restaurant for making big pots and K-cups of the Breakfast Blend for when I’m in a hurry for that first cup and don’t want to wait for the entire pot to brew, or if I only have time for one cup in the morning. 

The company describes my two favorites as follows:


American Restaurant (which is number one on my list of all their blends): 

“In the mid-1990s, we were fortunate to collaborate with Kansas City’s famous American Restaurant on a custom blend to be sold at their restaurant. Several years later, the restaurant’s management thought it might be time to update the blend. They assembled some of their favorite customers for lunch and a coffee blending session with the goal to outdo their current coffee offering. After sampling many coffees in many different combinations, the group realized that the existing blend was perfect and so loved by their customers. Notes of stone fruit and apple, balanced with a medium body, rich and smoky in the finish.”





Breakfast Blend (a close second): “Our Breakfast Blend is bright, clean, energizing and easy to drink. So up and at ’em! Start your day with a cup or two of this eye-opening blend. Notes of ripe berry and citrus, round and balanced, crisp, clean finish, light roast.”




The company offers subscriptions, which they call putting your favorite order on autopilot. I get my coffees delivered every month via UPS, with free shipping. When you place your order, the coffee is air-roasted and packaged within 24 hours, ensuring freshness upon delivery. (Trust me when I say the aroma when you open the box is heavenly!)

My order usually arrives with a cute, hand-written note, which is a nice touch. 


When I want something different, I’ll order Betty’s Recipe blend, which has flavors of hazelnut and cinnamon—my two favorite coffee flavors in one cup! I also like the KC Chiefs-inspired blends, but that may just be because I’m a huge fan of the team.


FYI: The Roasterie is not paying me to write this post. I just enjoy their coffee so much I wanted to share it with you, especially since it can be shipped around the U.S. Once they open back up after Covid restrictions are lifted, I plan to take a factory tour and try out a barista class. 

If coffee is your passion, look at The Roasterie website to check out their many coffee blends and learn more about the company.  


Thursday, May 13, 2021

Mango Macadamia Breakfast Bars

 


I love cookies for breakfast.   

Now I’m not talking about chocolate-chip or sugar cookies, but the type that feels somewhat healthy, such as oatmeal cookies and fig bars. With yogurt or a cheese stick on the side for protein and maybe a piece of fruit (usually a banana), I feel satisfied and ready to start the day. 

When I came across Jamie Oliver’s Buddy’s Flapjack Biscuits video, I was intrigued. Of course, to me, flapjacks mean pancakes—in other words, breakfast.  However, in the United Kingdom, a flapjack is a baked bar made with oatmeal, and biscuit means cookies.

It still sounds like breakfast to me! 

The recipe was straightforward, calling for 100 grams of every ingredient. And the list was short—unsalted butter, oatmeal, self-rising flour, golden syrup, and a mix of dried fruit and nuts. Once measured, everything goes into the food processor, where it whizzed together to make the dough.

Are you using a food scale yet? Seriously, measuring with the scale is not only more accurate but also easy. No need for measuring cups! I was inspired to buy one after watching many episodes of The Great British Baking Show. Mine is from Oxo, and I love it.  



This recipe came along at the right time since I wanted to try baking with self-rising flour, which is flour with baking powder and salt already mixed in. Many old recipes call for it, especially one from the South and several UK recipes.  (I use the Hudson Cream brand milled in Kansas.)






I also had Lyles Golden Syrup, also known as light or golden treacle in the UK. In Jamie Oliver’s original recipe, he suggests substituting honey, maple syrup, or sugar. I would go with honey since the consistency is very much like golden syrup. (I get my golden syrup on Amazon.) 



You can use whatever mixture of nuts and dried fruit you like, as long as the combo comes to 100 grams. My first attempt at the recipe had hazelnuts, peanuts, and walnuts combined with dried blueberries and cherries. They tasted great! 


However, my heart was craving something tropical. Last year was the first in a long time where I didn’t take a trip to an island destination, and I was missing the beaches in Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Key West. Then I remembered enjoying the Anahola Granola Bars in Kauai, especially those with bits of mango and ginger. 

Which is how this recipe combination was born. I used macadamia nuts, dried mango, and a bit of crystallized ginger in the mix. Next time, I may add a bit of coconut, too. 




These bars are crumbly and not too sweet, which makes them perfect for breakfast. I also like to crumble one on top of yogurt or munch on one to appease any hunger pangs in the afternoon.












Yield: Makes 16 bars
Author: Linda Ditch
Mango Ginger Breakfast Bars

Mango Ginger Breakfast Bars

Based on the recipe for Buddy's Flapjack Biscuits from Jamie Oliver, these bars are perfect for breakfast or an anytime snack. You can use whatever dried fruits and nuts you prefer to make your own favorite flavor combo.

Ingredients

  • 100 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 100 grams old-fashioned oatmeal
  • 100 grams self-rising flour
  • 100 grams mixed macadamia nuts (50g), dried mango (40-45g), and crystallized ginger (5-10g)
  • 100 grams golden syrup or honey

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Put all of the ingredients into a food processor and pulse until the mixture comes together into a dough. Press the dough into the prepared pan to make an even layer. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.
  3. When you remove the pan from the oven, cut it into 16 bars while still warm. Then allow the bars to cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Next, lift the bars out of the pan with the parchment paper and place them onto a wire rack to finish cooling. Store in an air-tight container.
Created using The Recipes Generator

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

Burrito Skillet

 

Seriously, this skillet dinner is one of the simplest meals to put together on a weeknight. And one of my favorites! I also love how easy it is to change up this recipe depending on what you have in the pantry and freezer. No black beans? Use pinto or kidney beans instead. Prefer ground turkey or chicken instead of beef? Go for it! Or skip the meat and go vegetarian, or even vegan by using non-dairy cheese. I like brown rice in this recipe, but you can easily use white or cauliflower rice instead.



I serve my burrito skillet with chips, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole on the side. (I love to crumble chips over the top for some crunch!) This dish also makes great leftovers for lunch the next day. 










If you're looking for more Mexican-inspired recipes (Cinco de Mayo?), check out my post here for these delicious selections. 








Yield: 4 to 6
Author: Linda Ditch
Burrito Skillet

Burrito Skillet

A one-pan, easy weeknight dinner when you're craving something Mexcian.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken
  • 1/2 green pepper, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, diced
  • 1 can black beans, drained
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1 packet favorite taco seasoning
  • 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice
  • Grated cheese of choice

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the ground meat, green peppers, and onions. Cook until meat is browned and vegetables softened.
  2. Stir in the black beans and corn. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the mixture and stir to combine. Then add in the can of tomatoes. Simmer on low until the mixture thickens up a bit. Then stir in the rice.
  3. Spread grated cheese over the top of the mixture. Cover the skillet with a lid for a minute. When the cheese has melted, the dish is ready to serve.
Created using The Recipes Generator

Thursday, April 22, 2021

No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake

 

I am a massive fan of Nigella Lawson. She creates luscious recipes and writings. Not only am I attracted to her recipes, but I also love her no-excuses approach to food. I’ve watched most of her cooking shows. My favorite scenes were her pajama-clad, late-night trips to the refrigerator for a recipe leftover as a snack to end the program.  





FYI: Nigella’s new book called Cook, Eat, Repeat: Ingredients, Recipes, and Stories was released on April 20th. She wrote it this past year while spending a lot of time alone during the Covid lockdown in the United Kingdom. 








I already have a recipe picked out to try! I can’t wait to dig deeper into the book. 






This No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake is from her book Nigellissima. It was our dessert for Easter dinner. Then I enjoyed a piece almost every day in the following week. I love Nutella. It’s such a good spread on a graham cracker, and I use it to make an easy hazelnut latte. In this recipe, the cream cheese provides a tang to balance out the sweetness. 

I made one change: Nigella’s original recipe calls for a crust made with digestive biscuits. Since I didn’t have any, I used graham crackers instead. This substitution worked, but it made for a very thick crust. Next time, I’ll give the digestives a try to see if there’s a difference. Don’t get me wrong. The cheesecake tasted great even with a thick crust. 

Since I can make this dessert without turning on the oven, this will be my go-to recipe for something sweet this summer. 

Yield: 8 to 12
Author: Linda Ditch
No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake

No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake

Adapted from a recipe found in Nigellissima by Nigella Lawson. This simple recipe comes together quickly without the aid of an oven.

Ingredients

  • 100 grams hazelnuts, toasted (see note)
  • 250 grams (about 8 to 9 ounces) graham crackers
  • 75 grams (5 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon) soft unsalted butter
  • 400 grams Nutella
  • 500 grams (2 8-ounce packages) room temperature cream cheese
  • 60 grams (1/2 cup) confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

  1. Place the toasted hazelnuts into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the nuts are finely chopped. Pour into a small bowl and set aside.
  2. Break up the graham crackers into smaller pieces and place them into the same food processor bowl you used for the nuts (no need to clean). Add in the butter and a rounded tablespoon of the Nutella. Whiz the mixture together until it starts to look like damp sand. Add 3 tablespoons of the chopped hazelnuts, and pulse 3 or so times to mix.
  3. Pour the graham cracker mixture into a 9-inch springform pan. Press the crumbs into the base and slightly up the sides to create a firm, even crust. (I used the back of a small measuring cup to do this.) Put the pan into the refrigerator to chill while you make the filling.
  4. In the bowl of a mixer, add the rest of the Nutella and the cream cheese. Sift the confectioners’ sugar over the top. Beat until the mixture is smooth. Remove the crust from the fridge and pour the filling over the top, spreading into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining chopped hazelnuts over the top.
  5. Refrigerate the cheesecake for at least 4 hours. Be sure to serve it straight from the fridge for easier cutting and put any leftovers back into the fridge.
  6. Note: To toast the hazelnuts, pour the nuts into a dry skillet and place over medium-low heat. Toss occasionally and toast until golden. I used nuts with the skins already removed, but you can wrap up the hot, toasted skin-on nuts in a clean kitchen towel to steam for 10 minutes and then rub off as much skin as possible.
Created using The Recipes Generator

Friday, April 16, 2021

Kansas Farm to School

 

I am a huge fan of Kansas farmers and the hard work they put in to feed this state and the world. Today I got an interesting press release from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). It tells a fascinating story of how the pandemic inspired the connection between farmers and ranchers to first consumers and then to schools to provide produce straight from the farm to the dinner table and school lunchrooms. So I wanted to share parts of it with you.

Maybe my Kansas friends are already familiar with Shop Kansas Farms. The story began about a year ago after Rick McNary and his wife, Christine, were eating “a great meal of beef” that they had purchased from a farmer in Anthony, Kansas.

“As we settled in to watch a Hallmark movie, my wife commented that the meat counter was empty at the grocery store that day,” McNary wrote on the Shop Kansas Farms website. “I grabbed my laptop and created the Facebook group, Shop Kansas Farms, for the sole purpose of connecting you to the wonderful farm and ranch families of Kansas so that you can buy your meat, veggies, dairy, and fruit directly from them! Little did I know that I was like a little kid that pulled a plug on a dam and unleashed a flood!”

In just a few hours, more than 400 people had joined the Facebook group. Within 24 hours, there were 5,000 members, and within months, the group had grown to more than 147,000 members – primarily consumers. The McNarys formed Shop Kansas Farms LLC and created a website to meet consumer requests to have a searchable directory and map of farms in Kansas. Shop Kansas Farms was awarded the Agricultural Hero Award by the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Friend of Agriculture Award by the Kansas Farm Bureau and Butler County Farm Bureau.

Before long, the group caught the eye of Barb Depew, the Farm to Plate project director for the KSDE.  She went to the group as a consumer to find locally sourced items. Then she and McNary began to work on ideas to create a partnership between KSDE and Shop Kansas Farms that would make it easier for schools to connect with producers to get more locally produced food on students’ plates.

“It will help that the kids know where their food comes from,” Depew said.

Thanks to the partnership, the Shop Kansas Farms’ website, www.shopkansasfarms.com, now has a Farm to School link, which provides website guidance about selling local foods to schools. The link also has a list of schools that are currently providing local foods in meals and snacks and a list of farmers who now sell to child nutrition programs or are interested in providing this service.
 


The Farm to School program started in 2008 when the Farm Bill amended the Richard B. Russell School Lunch Act to direct the secretary of agriculture to encourage institutions operating child nutrition programs to purchase unprocessed, locally grown, and locally raised agricultural products. The initiative is an effort to connect K-12 schools with regional or local farms to serve healthy meals using local foods.

The first producer placed on the Shop Kansas Farms’ interactive map with the Farm to School program was Mark Jirak, owner of Jirak Family Produce near Cummings. He has been working with school districts for about 12 years. The farm provides a variety of items from mid-August through mid-October, including watermelon, cucumbers, jalapenos, slicing tomatoes, sweet corn, grape tomatoes, bell peppers, snacking peppers, green beans, cantaloupe, squash, and pumpkins. He recently put in an acre of high-density trellised apple and peach trees and hopes to offer apples to districts in the near future.

Jirak noted there are occasions when buying local can be more expensive. However, districts spend less money because they have less waste, which offsets a higher price. Students tend to eat more of the locally grown items because they are healthier and taste better, and schools can order precisely what they need, which also reduces waste.

“Schools are committed to providing a high-quality, nutritious eating experience,” Jirak said. “They care about the kids. It’s a good program.”

Depew and McNary are excited about the opportunities that the partnership has created.
“The connection is key to rural prosperity,” McNary said. “It’s a win-win for rural progress.”




Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Go-To Veggie Salad

 


Sometimes my body cries out for vegetables. When this happens, I have three go-to recipes to satisfy the craving. In the winter, it’s a simple veggie soup. Other times, I cut up both a regular and sweet potato and toss the pieces in olive old with some large chunks of red onion, green pepper, and zucchini, and then roast it all in the air fryer. 

When warmer weather arrives, salad is the logical solution to a veggie craving. However, I’m not a big fan of lettuce salads. I like them on occasion, but typically I’ll just munch on sugar snap peas, radishes, and baby carrots, along with sliced-up cucumber, green pepper, and celery. No dip necessary, but sometimes enjoyed.




Recently, I saw an Instagram post from The View from Great Island for a chopped asparagus salad. I was inspired! What a great jumping-off point for a veggie salad sans lettuce flexible enough to fit whatever produce is in season. 






This recipe is the one I made for Easter dinner and then enjoyed the leftovers for lunch the following week. Other than the asparagus, I typically have most of the ingredients on hand. 

I can see a version of this salad showing up on my dinner table many times in the next few months.

What is your go-to veggie dish? 


Yield: 6 to 8
Author: Linda Ditch
Go-To Veggie Salad

Go-To Veggie Salad

A veggie salad sans lettuce flexible enough to fit whatever produce is in season

Ingredients

  • 1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 bag frozen shelled edamame, thawed
  • 1 English-styled cucumber, diced
  • 2 green peppers, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, diced
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 1/2 bunch asparagus, cut into 1/2 to 1-inch pieces and blanched
  • 2 carrots, sliced
  • Crumbled feta cheese, to taste
  • Kalamata olives, to taste
  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place beans and veggies into a large salad bowl. Add feta cheese and olives to fit your taste.
  2. To make the dressing: In a small bowl or a jar, add the remaining ingredients. Whisk/shake well to combine. Pour the dressing over the top of the veggies, and then toss to combine. (You may not need all of the dressing.)
Created using The Recipes Generator