Chopped Vegetable & Bean Salad

I got this recipe from "Experience Life" magazine - it's a magazine put out with my gym membership at LifeTime Fitness.

Makes 4 servings

For the dressing:
2 T red wine vinegar
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
2 T olive oil

For the salad:
1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 c peeled and diced cucumber
1/2 c diced red bell pepper
1/4 c diced yellow bell pepper
1/4 c diced red onion
1/4 c diced black olives
3/4 t chopped fresh oregano
2 t chopped fresh basil
3/4 c diced tomato
3/4 c cooked white beans
1/2 c cooked garbanzo beans
1/2 c chopped hearts of palm

In a small bowl, combine red wine vinegar, salt and pepper. Add olive oil and beat well with a wire whip.

In a large bowl, combine salad ingredients. Add salad dressing and toss lightly. Divide equally into large salad bowls.

Chived Green Beans

This is a wonderful side dish for a holiday dinner.

1 pound (454 g) fresh green beans, washed, stems snapped off
2 tablespoons (1 oz/28 g) butter or (1 fl oz/30 ml) olive oil
1/4 cup (59 ml) chives, chopped
1 teaspoon (5 ml) white wine vinegar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Steam or boil the green beans until just tender, then drain.

In a saucepan, melt the butter (or heat the oil) over medium-low heat and add the chives. Stir for 1 minute, then add the green beans and continue stirring for another 2 minutes.

Add the vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.

Yield: 4 side-dish servings