Mediterranean Cafe Salad

As a recipe blogger in the Twitter Moms network, I was asked to review a new YouTube video from the Canned Food Alliance. The link to the video is in my right sidebar. It's only 10 minutes long so pull up a bag of microwave popcorn and give it a whirl.

It talks about how food gets from the farmers fields to the consumers table.

Did you know...

*Canned foods are at their peak of freshness when canned

*Most foods go through a 7 step cleaning process before canning

*For both fruits and vegetables, they tend to be fat-free and high in fiber.

Gourmet Magazine has called 2010 the year of the Home Cook. In the video, they talk about using canned goods to make one-dish meals with 5 or less ingredients, around $2-$3 per serving and ready in 20 minutes or less.

Kind of fits the Power Cooking theme, doesn't it.

Here's one of my recipes that includes canned goods and fresh vegetables. It's a hearty salad that includes canned beans, a great source or fat-free protein and fiber, and canned chicken, (though you can opt for fresh if you like.)

Mediterranean Cafe Salad

Dressing
1/4 C olive oil
3 T white wine vinegar
1 envelope Lipton Savory Herb & Garlic soup mix
1 garlic clove, pressed

Salad
1/2 med. cucumber, seeded and sliced
1 small can pitted ripe olives, sliced and drained
1/2 C diced red bell pepper
1 small carrot, grated
2 large cans chunk white chicken, drained
1 can (15oz) Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
1 pkg hearts of Romaine lettuce
1/2 C crumbled herb and garlic feta cheese, optional

For dressing, whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl until well blended. Set aside.

For salad, remove seeds from cucumber and slice thinly. Then cut slices in half. Dice bell pepper with knife. Grate carrot.

Open cans of olives and chicken. Drain. Open can of beans; rinse and drain.

Add all ingredients into a large serving bowl. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with feta cheese if desired.

Serve immediately.

Serves 6 people.

Enjoy!

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