Pot Lucky: Marinated Salad

Today, we had a floor-wide potluck at work.  My #1 rule regarding potlucks is to always bring something that you yourself will eat.  That way, if everyone else brings junkfood, you have a whole homemade dish you can hoard for yourself!  Genius, yes?  I'm fortunate enough that my floor has folks who can cook!  But perhaps you aren't as lucky as I.  That's why you need a go-to side dish that will impress.

My gorgeous fiance Jess (hi baby!) has this brilliant, simple recipe for a marinated salad that's a foolproof potluck side dish.  It's full of veggies, spices, and savory goodness!  What's not to like?  I'm not a fan of lettuce (aka: rabbit food), so this is my kind of "salad!"

Procure (transitive verb - to get possession of or obtain by particular care and effort) the following veggie-type items from your farmers market or grocery store:

3 cucumbers, 1 onion (Vidalia!), 2 containers of grape tomatoes, 1 container sliced mushrooms, 1 jar pitted green olives, 1 can pitted black olives, 1 jar pepperoncinis

Peel the cucumbers and cut into small chunks (with your razor sharp knife, of course).  Cut your grape tomatoes in half.  Drain all but half of the juice from your green olives and pepperoncinis.

Then, mix together the following:

1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 1 tsp oregano, 1 tsp italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp sugar, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup juice from the olive jar, 1/4 cup juice from the pepperoncini jar

Dump everything in a large bowl.  Stir.  Cover.  Refrigerate.  8 hours later........peek in the bowl and take a whiff......

HOLY GUACAMOLE!  IT'S MARINATED SALAD!  BRILLIANT!

It practically makes itself. 

Try it.  You'll like it.

-Sam

Marinated Salad

3 cucumbers

1 Vidalia onion
2 containers of grape tomatoes
1 container sliced mushrooms
1 jar pitted green olives
1 can pitted black olives
1 jar pepperoncinis

Peel the cucumbers and cut into small chunks.  Cut your grape tomatoes in half.  Drain all but half of the juice from your green olives and pepperoncinis.

Then, mix together the following:

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup juice from the olive jar
1/4 cup juice from the pepperoncini jar

Dump all veggies and this marinade into a large bowl.  Stir.  Cover.  Refrigerate for at least 8 hours.  Serve cold.