And Now For Something Completely Different...

Ok, so for these first couple of posts I've been focusing on some rich & tasty stuff, and since we are entering a new year, and I will be finding myself in a bathing suit at the end of the month (ah, come on!), I thought I'd toss in a recipe for something that does not involve cheese (sigh), cream (grumble) or any other of my favorite bad foods. In all honesty, I actually really love this salad, and eat it a lot for something quick and filling that won't destroy all those hours of sweatin' to the oldies. It was actually inspired by an awesome edamame salad that my hometown grocery store makes, but with a couple of tweaks. It's great as is, over a green salad, as a dip for tortilla chips or pretty much an other application you can think of.

Edamame Salad

-1 Package of shelled edamame (be careful to get the type with no additives, some companies will add funky stuff to maintain freshness which can really effect the taste!)

- 2/3 Cup of cooled corn roasted w/ cumin, olive oil, salt & pepper (roast @ 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, stirring & checking often)

-4 Cloves of spicy marinated garlic cloves, minced*

- 2-3 of the hot peppers from marinated garlic, minced (adjust the spicy to your liking)*

-1/2 Cup of black beans (rinsed & drained if canned)

-Juice of 1/2 a lime

-Salt & Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients in a shallow bowl and mix thoroughly (if you're having a bad day, toss 'em all in a re-sealable container, slap on the top, and shake the hell out of it. You'll feel better, trust me.). The salad will get better the more you allow the flavors to come together, so I would recommend letting it sit over night in the fridge. If you want to impress your friends, inform them that this dish is also vegan friendly. Cause you're so progressive.

*Hot pepper marinated garlic is pretty widely available off of those fancy olive bar/carts in most grocery stores. A word to the wise, it's got a fairly high level of spice, so exert caution if this is your maiden voyage into using marinated garlic & peppers. If you're feeling extra spicy, toss in some of the curing oil for some extra flavor kick. If you a bit of a Nancy, skip the garlic & pepper and sub in a little chopped red onion. Don't forget to pull down your skirt. :-)