Rock the Pot-Luck!!!

OK, so you want to make a big hit at the office or neighborhood pot-luck? Here’s a salad that will do the trick. In addition to being colorful and tasty, it is heart healthy, with very low sodium and fat.

This salad takes about 30 minutes to prepare, and can be made up the night before with no problem.

So here’s what you need to get started.

• ½ pound Orzo (Roughly ½ a box of the Ronzoni Orzo)
• ¼ to ½ cup of Feta cheese
• 10 – 15 Kalamata olives
• ½ of a good-sized tomato
• 4 mushrooms (sliced)
• 2-3 cloves fresh garlic, (minced)
• 3-5 green onions (minced)
• ¼ -1/2 cup chopped basil
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro
• ½ -1 cup fresh spinach (chopped)
• 1-2 small-medium sweet peppers (chopped)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1/8 – ¼ cup red wine vinegar

While the orzo is cooking, prepare all of the other ingredients (except for the olive oil and vinegar) and put them in a large bowl that will give you room to really stir it all together.

Once all the ingredients (except the Orzo) are in the bowl, add the oil and vinegar and mix everything well.

The following is the key to the success of this salad, so pay attention.
When the Orzo is ready, drain it and then immediately pour the drained and still hot orzo into the bowl with your ingredients. Mix the Orzo thoroughly with all of your ingredients and then let the bowl sit out(preferably covered) for about 15 minutes. This will steam-cook the spinach and other vegetables just enough to release their flavor. It will also slightly melt the cheese so that is mixes and blends in with the other flavors.

After 15 minutes, refrigerate the salad until you are ready to go to your pot-luck. This salad is best served at room temperature, so that is why it is ideal for bringing to a party because by the time you reach your destination, the salad will be perfect, and you will be a star!!!