Peasant Pasta Salad

I HATE cooking in the summer so all of our summer meals consist of grilled meat and yummy side salads.  This is one of my favorite salad's modified to fit our summer meals! 

Ingredients

1/2 Cucumber

1/2 Package of Halved Cherry Tomatoes

1/2 cup Cured Olives (kalamata and sundried tomatoe stuffed green)

1 Red Onion

1 1/2 Lemons Squeezed

3/4 lb Penne Pasta

Healthy handfuls of chopped Parsley and Dill

1/2 cup Olive Oil

1/2 cup Feta Cheese crumbled

Salt and Pepper to taste

Start by mixing cucumber, tomatoes, olives, red onion, herbs, lemon juice and olive oil.

Add pasta while semi hot, then add feta cheese so that some of it melts into the salad.  Then season with salt and pepper to taste.

We served it with grilled chicken that was marinated in Lemon juice, canola oil, oregano and salt and pepper.   And of course a side of homemade hummus and pita chips.

So light and refreshing.. the perfect dinner for a hot summer night!

Enjoy!
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http://prettyshabbyuk.blogspot.com/


Love,

Pinkapotamus

Warm Arugula Pasta Salad

This was dinner!.. ohhhhh Yum!

That delicious stuff on the side is my Waaarrmmm Arugula pasta salad.. and here's how you make it!

Ingredients

3/4 lb pasta

2 cups fresh arugula

7 campari tomatoes

1/2 yellow pepper

1 can chick peas (drained)

1 cup feta cheese

Juice from 1 lemon

1/2 cup olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

(we use smoked salt from Trader Joe's)

Start by boiling your water for the pasta.

Then cut up your tomatoes and yellow pepper.

Toss together with your arugula and chick peas.

Add drained pasta while still hot.

Top with feta cheese so that it melts. 

Sooo nice and creamy!

Now add olive oil, lemon juice and salt and pepper and toss again.

Then enjoy with some grilled chicken!

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Simple Sides for Summer!

In the summer, simplicity is the name of the game!  I love light, healthy, simple food.  So here are two recipes for two super easy and sooo delicious sides!

Carrot Salad

Ingredients

1 bag shredded carrots

1 cup olive oil

1 lemon (juiced)

salt and pepper to taste

Put all ingredients in a bowl, mix, let marinate 10 minutes and Enjoy!

Garden Rice Pilaf

Ingredients

3 TBLS canola oil

1 1/2 cups rice

1 red onion diced

1/2 green pepper diced

2 cups water

2 lemons juiced

1 cup peas (frozen)

1 tsp oregano

salt to taste

Saute red onion in canola oil with salt over medium heat.  When brown add green pepper and saute.   Saute rice until slightly brown and giving off a nutty aroma.  Reduce the heat to a simmer and add two cups of water, lemon juice, peas,  salt and oregano.  Simmer covered for about 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and then of course Enjoy!

We served our two sides with grilled chicken with a feta cheese dressing.. oh Yum!

I am sharing with

Love,

Pinkapotamus

When Life Hands You Stale Bread...

.. Make Bread Salad! 

Oh yay!  So yummy and super easy!  One of our family's favorite weeknight sides.

Ingredients

Stale bread cut into cubes

kalamata olives

1/2 cup - 1 cup olive oil (depending on how stale your bread is)

Juice from 2 lemons

1 large tomato

1 red onion

fresh basil

fresh parsley

feta cheese chunks

salt and pepper

Start by cubing bread, chopping veggies and squeezing lemson.  Then add all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix.  Set aside for atleast 15 minutes until the bread softens.

We served ours with lemon basil grilled chicken and corn on the cob.

Yum-o!

Oh yeah and the possiblilites here are endless.. basiclally if its in your fridge and about to go bad .. throw it in!

You could go Italian with mozzarella, basil, balsamic vinegar, green olives and red peppers.

You could go Mexican with black beans, corn, tomatoes , onion, green peppers, cilantro and avocado.

Enjoy!
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Oh yeah.. and here is a sneak peek at what I am working on for tomorrow!

Love,

Pinkapotamus

Mediterranean 3 Bean Salad

Summer!

It feels like it is finally here in NJ which also means we have dinners where my kitchen stays relatively clean with no pots or pans to wash just bowls full of yummy goodness, fresh ingredients and meat on the grill. One of my family's favorites.. yes even the kids.. is Mediterranean 3 Bean Salad!

Here's how you can make it too!

Ingredients
3 cans of beans (I like garbanzo, cannelli and red kidney)

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup creamy Feta cheese

Juice of 2 lemons

1 yellow or red pepper

1/2 red onion

1/2 pint of cherry tomatoes halved

1/4 cup chopped parsley

salt and pepper to taste

Start by draining and rinsing all three cans of beans in a colander. Then put in a large bowl. Chop pepper, onion, tomatoes and parsley and add to bowl. Juice both lemons and add to bowl. Toss in the feta cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Mix well and enjoy!

Oh yum!

We served our bean salad with grilled chicken, grilled potatoes and salad.

So light and refreshing.. perfect for a hot summer night or to bring to a BBQ! Super easy and really impressive in flavor!

Have fun grilling this summer!

I am sharing with

Love,

Pinkapotamus