Healthy Hearty Salad--by Monica

Healthy and Hearty Salad

Ingredients:
½ c. Fava Beans, shelled and cooked
1/2 c. White Butter Peas (found in the frozen vegetables section at Harris Teeter supermarkets), cooked
1/2 c. Peas, either fresh or frozen, cooked
6 Asparagus, cooked and chopped bite size
1/2 c. Speckled Beans (or any other heirloom variety, also found in the frozen vegetables section at HT supermarkets), cooked
6 artichoke hearts, chopped bite size (I like the brand found in jars at Trader Joe's; the artichoke hearts are meatty, very tasty and are slightly marinated already)

Optional:
6 cornichons, chopped small
6 cocktail onions, chopped small


Dressing:
The juice of 1 large lemon, freshly squeezed
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. chopped Dill
4 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, preferably a fruity type

Mix well until the vinaigrette emulsifies.


Preparation:
Cook all the ingredients in salted water, but separately (once cooked, the veggies all go into one big salad bowl.) Drain the veggies from their cooking liquids and place in a shallow salad bowl. While still warm, add 3 Tbsp. of red wine or white wine vinegar. Let rest for about 5 minutes, then pour the dressing and toss well. This salad can be served warm or cold. It also reheats very nicely in the microwave and serve as side dish to meat/fish/poultry.