Fresh from the Farmer's Market

I'm forced to take a little break from work this evening and tomorrow...our EGA guild is bringing in an outside teacher and months ago (before I knew how busy I would be), I signed up (and paid for) for the lecture this evening and the class tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I am excited for the lecture and class...and to get out of my office for a bit...but I truly have so much work to do, I feel almost guilty taking a break. The fun news is, the teacher is Phyllis Maurer from Ethnic Fiber Art and we have known each other for years...we met taking classes together back in the Spirit of Cross Stitch and CATS days. I haven't had a chance to see her for a couple years, so I am really looking forward to have a chance to chat with her! The class she is teaching for our chapter is in German Schwalm Embroidery and is titled The Princess Pillow...I am not super familiar with this type of embroidery, so I will definitely be learning something new.

Tonight for the lecture, we are having a salad/dessert potluck....now I am not usually a fan of potluck style eating, but our EGA group usually does a great job with some healthy choices. You all know how much I adore vegetables, so obviously, I chose to bring a salad. I decided to try a brand new (to me) recipe. Earlier this week when I was shopping with my girlfriends, we went to one of my favorite places - Penzeys Spices - where I found a great new recipe and new salt-free seasoning called Mural of Flavor. The recipe is for Mural Of Flavor Green Bean Salad...and it combines some of my favorite things - fresh green beans, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and feta cheese...with a very nice herbal dressing. The Mural of Flavor seasoning is a mix of shallots, onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, basil, coriander, lemon peel, citric acid, black pepper, chives, green peppercorns, dill weed, and orange peel. I have a nice big bowl prepared for the potluck tonight, but I had to make myself a small bowl for lunch...and it is YUMMY....and the vegetables are fresh from the farmer's market! I can't seem to find the recipe on the Penzeys Spices website (where there are tons of great ideas!), so I am posting it for you, just in case the photo entices you...

Ingredients:
1 pound fresh green beans
1 small red onion, peeled and minced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/2 cup Feta cheese

Dressing:
1 tablespoon Mural of Flavor from Penzeys Spices
1 tablespoon water
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1-2 teaspoons sugar

Instructions:
Bring a large pot of water to a boil.

While the water is coming to a boil, mix the Mural of Flavor and water in a roomy bowl.
After 5 minutes, add the oil, vinegar, sugar, and red onion.
Mix well and set aside.

Wash the beans, cut off the stem end, and chop into roughly 2 inch chunks.
Place the beans in the rapidly boiling water.
Cook until just tender (approximately 5-7 minutes for large beans).
Remove the beans and run under cold water until cool (this will stop the cooking process and keep the beans green).
Drain well.
Toss the beans with the dressing.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Add tomatoes and half of the feta cheese.
Toss to combine...sprinkle the rest of the feta cheese on top and serve.