Easy Summer Salad

I haven't been cooking much lately.  I seem to get into this thought pattern where cooking needs to be time consuming and complicated to be good, so we end up going out.  Also, we are lazy about going to the grocery store.  Eating out is nice, but I feel healthier when I eat at home AND I've noticed that eating out can take more time than making a simple dinner.




Funny Face peeking out!

This summer we have a CSA box that we go pick up every week.  So, even if we don't go to the store, there are at least some vegetables in the house.  I threw this together when I got home from work.  I was very hungry, but wanted something healthy.  This salad is so delicious, and reminds me that simple can be so satisfying!  In addition, this meets my need for savory flavors when I am very hungry.

I enjoyed this salad for dinner on my back deck with a nice glass (or two) of wine.  My current favorite - 2011 Chateau des Hospitaliers Coteaux de Languedoc Blanc.  I also had the company of Funny Face, the friendly stray cat that lives under our deck. 

Easy Summer Salad

(serves 1, easy to multiply)

2-3 cups baby romaine lettuce
1 tomato
1/4 cucumber
1/2 cup garbanzo beans, rinsed
10 Nicoise olives (or other olive, such as Kalamata)
1 Tbsp. capers
Shaved parmesan, to taste
Balsamic vinaigrette (I used the recipe found here, with half grapeseed, half olive oil)

Wash and dry baby romaine, but don't chop or tear.  Add to large bowl.  Cut tomato in wedges and cucumber in half moons.  Scatter tomato wedges, cucumber half moons, garbanzo beans, olives, and capers over lettuce.  Shave a bit of parmesan over the salad, add balsamic vinaigrette to taste, and enjoy!