Mushroom and walnut pasta salad.

We had mentioned in the group that we were all looking forward to the summer not only for the obvious reasons but also for the fresh salads we make for the Lunch Group. So Maria must have figured we don't really need to wait to enjoy those kind of delights. This pasta salad was tasty and crunchy and morish. Everybody had a second serving. It's a great option for a group lunch. It's easy, tasty and you can put a wide variety of ingredients in there. Personally I enjoyed bumping into the raisins. I have a soft spot for sweet and savory combinations.

This one had:
- red onion
- grilled red pepper (which gave it a very nice touch)
- walnuts
- fennel
- avocado
- mushrooms
- cherry tomatos
- raisins
- pasta bows
- mini pasta penne
- a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese and parsley on top


Dressed with:
- balsamic vinegar (maybe I would leave this out. I think the lemon might be enough to dress it and balsamic vinegar gives the pasta a dirty colour.)
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- rosemary

Today's cook: Maria

Chickpea, Spinach and Tomato Soup.

The first blog entry is about this filling and comforting soup. And even if I say so myself, very tasty! I think the trick is in adding the right amount of lemon. I cooked for 7 people (3 of them were coming later) and took just under an hour to make it. Served with turkish bread. Mandarins for desert.

Recipe found here:
http://herbivoracious.com/2011/03/chickpea-spinach-and-tomato-soup-recipe.html

Changes I made from the original recipe:
- I just used one clove of garlic instead of eight.
- The chickpeas were tinned (quicker to cook and equally tasty).
- The chili was fresh.
- Added more chickpeas and spinach as there were 7 of us.


Today's cook: Rachel.