3000 miles 'til dinner.

Prep time: 45 minutes

Servings:  5 (1/3 C servings)

♥PANTRY, FRIDGE, MARKET♥♥

1-1/4 C. Harvest Grains Mix —- dried mix from Trader Joes (blend of Israeli-style couscous, orzo, baby garbonzo beans, yellow split peas, red quinoa)

1/2 C. parsley, finel chopped

1/3 C. fresh herbs mix, finely chopped (choose any or all: cilantro, basil, thyme, sage,oregano, chives, dill, marjoram)

1/2 C. carrots, finely diced

1/2 C. celery, finely diced

Juice from 1 lemon

1/3 -1/2 C. olive oil

1-1/2 T. vinegar (white balsamic, rice wine or other)

sea salt, cracked pepper

♥PREP - Cook Harvest Grains:  Bring 1-3/4 C water and 1 tsp. sea salt to a boil. Add Harvest Grains, bring back to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, remove lid,  stir grains  with a fork and 1/3 C. add olive oil. Cool to room temperature.

When grains have cooled, add remaining ingredients. Taste and adjust olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste.

♥♥ WAYS TO “just wing it” ♥♥               consider or substitute

*substitute:  make your own grains mix if you do not have a Trader Joes in your neighborhood with these approx. proportions:  1/3 orzo, 1/3 Israeli-style couscous, 1/3 red quinoa, baby garbonzo mix & split yellow peas combo

*consider: gluten-free salad using approximately 1/3 brown or white rice (cook separately)  and 1/3 yellow split peas & baby garbonzo combo — following cooking directions for Harvest Grains

*consider: adding other veggies, such as small dice cucumber, peppers, fennel and or tiny tomatoes

*consider:  adding fresh cooked shrimp,  scallops or seared tofu 

♥ Helpful Hints♥

*if grains are cooked and allowed to sit for a few hours or overnight, they will stick together; add a little more olive oil and “crumble sticky clumps” apart with your fingers

(MIL post)