One of my dearest friends cooks, bakes, and grills like a professional chef. She loves to chop vegetables, says things like “ramekins” and has her own tablecloth named after her—The Christine—for purchase at The Palate in Stockholm, WI: http://www.thepalate.net/. Preparing food has been her passion since before my husband and I met Christine and her husband, Mark, over 15 years ago. It has been our good fortune to be the lucky recipients of many delicious meals and absolutely wonderful times in their home. Since I am all about following our passion, this is my way of letting her have an outlet for hers. Enjoy!
Greek Quinoa or Couscous Salad
Spring is the time of year when we start to wear lighter clothes and also lighten up our meals. We still want to feel satisfied but we don’t want to feel weighed down. This salad is a fresh, satisfying meal that can be a main dish for lunch or a nice side with some fresh Copper River salmon that is just coming into season.
To really get the satisfaction out of a meal you want it to taste good, as well as be quick and easy to make—but most of all you should enjoy the process of preparing the meal! You might think it’s easier to just buy your produce washed and chopped for you, but you should consider preparing the meal yourself. It’s a great way to unwind after work; and if you have kids, it is a great time to teach them to cook. Most importantly—the food will taste better AND it costs less! ~ Christine
Ingredients:
1/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp salt
1 tsp fresh grated black pepper
3 cups cooked quinoa or couscous
1 red bell pepper chopped in 1/2 inch piece
1 small cucumber cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 bunch green onions ( scallions) chopped in 1/2 inch pieces
1 can garbanzo beans/chick peas drained and rinsed
1 cup roughly chopped baby spinach or arugula
2 tbsp Fresh chopped herbs such as parsley, dill or oregano
1 pack of crumbled feta cheese
Preparation:
In a small bowl, mix the first four ingredients together with a whisk. Pour over the quinoa or couscous and stir well. Add the veggies, beans, spinach / arugula, herbs and cheese and mix to combine. Refrigerate for 1 hour so the favors can meld.
