White Pea Potluck Salad

Good morning!

Oh, how I love saturdays, don't you? It may be grey, chilly, and wet outside, but - at least for the lucky few of us who have weekends off - it still feels warm and sunny inside :) Another reason to smile is the upcoming potluck I'll be going to tonight. If there's one big difference between Winnipeg and Vancouver, it's definately all the potlucks happening every weeekend! I love it.

So, since I have class all day today, I've already prepared my dish - simple, easy, and cold, so it doesn't need to be reheated when I get there. It's a white bean salad made with soy beans, chick peas, and some other nummy ingredients. I've made this salad many times back home and my mom LOVES it. In essence, it's much like a hummus, only not mashed. So, fellow pot-luck-lovers, here's the recipe!

White Bean Salad

Ingredients:
* 2 cups soy beans, dried
* 1 (14 oz) can of chick peas, rinsed and drained
* 1 small cucumber, halved, sliced
* 2 shallots, thinly sliced
* 1 tsp garlic, minced
* 3 tbsp lemon juice
* 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
* 2 tsp olive oil
* 1 tbsp each oregano, thyme, basil
* Salt and pepper, to taste
* 1 cup mesclun mixture, chopped

1) Place soy beans in a soup pot. Add water to cover 1 inch above beans. Cook on low-medium heat for approximately 20 minutes, or until beans are cooked but still have a bit of a crunch to em
2) Place cooked beans in salad bowl and let cool to room temperature. Add chick peas, prepared vegetables, and garlic. Toss gently. Combine wet ingredients with spices, then add to salad. Toss to coat. Taste. Control yourself - don't get munchy-happy yet - and add salt and pepper as desired.
3) Add chopped greens and mix gently.
4) Place in a pretty salad bowl, cover tightly with saran wrap, and get your butt to that potluck - you're late!