Mediterranean Couscous and Lentil Salad

This simple salad from Gourmet magazine has become a regular favorite at our house after I made a Mediterranean-themed dinner for my in-laws.  The fresh flavors make this salad a tasty side dish to an easy grilled chicken dinner.  The salad keeps well in the fridge for a few days and is ready-to-eat at any time! =)  Here's the recipe:

Mediterranean Couscous and Lentil Salad
Gourmet  | September 1995

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup lentilles du Puy* (French green lentils) or brown lentils
• 3 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 1 cup couscous
• 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup olive oil (preferably extra-virgin)
• 1 large garlic clove, minced and mashed to a paste with 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1 bunch arugula, stems discarded and leaves washed well, spun dry, and chopped
• 2 cups vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 pound feta, crumbled (about 1 cup)

PREPARATION:

1. In a small saucepan simmer lentils in water to cover by 2 inches until tender but not falling apart, 15 to 20 minutes, and drain well. Transfer hot lentils to a bowl and stir in 1 tablespoon vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Cool lentils completely, stirring occasionally.
2. In a saucepan bring water to a boil and add couscous and salt. Remove pan from heat and let couscous stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to a large bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon oil and cool completely, stirring occasionally.
3. In a small bowl whisk together garlic paste, remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar, remaining 3 tablespoons oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir lentils and dressing into couscous. Chill salad, covered, at least 3 hours and up to 24.
4. Just before serving, stir in remaining ingredients and season with salt and pepper.

Some things I've changed after making this several times:

• I really like using pearled couscous in this salad because its shape is more similar to the shape of the lentils.
• Don't skimp on the garlic--I usually use up to three cloves.
• If you can't find arugula, any spring mix blend also works well.
• A great addition to the salad is chopped green onions (use 3-4)

Enjoy!

We're Back!

To my one dear reader, I apologize for my absence the past month.  We have been so busy visiting family and traveling that I haven't had the time to update regularly.  Our cruise to Mexico was worth it, though!  Check out some of my favorite pics from Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta:

It started raining in Puerto Vallarta while we were out on the boat around Los Arcos.  I loved how the rain and the clouds made the landscape look so dramatic and romantic. =)

Be back soon with more DIYs!

Wedding Cupcake Craze Part 3 of 3: DIY Cupcake Stand

Finally, the last installment of the Wedding Cupcake Craze is here!  After making delicious cupcakes, elegant wrappers, and cute toppers, showcase your cupcakes on a homemade cupcake stand!

As I mentioned before, I was inspired by a plastic plate that I saw at Target a few weeks ago--so that's why the red and black poppy theme is a little overdone here.  =)  There are a lot of ways you can make cupcakes stands--they range from disposable cardboard stands to permanent stands with interchangeable layers.  For this incredibly simple semi-permanent display, all you need is some hot glue, shot glasses, and plastic plates.

Materials: Two plastic plates--one slightly smaller than the other, two shot glasses (optional, filled with beads), and hot glue gun

Steps: Using hot glue, glue bottom of one shot glass to the center of larger plate.  Glue the top of the shot glass to the bottom of the smaller plate.  Optional: To create the effect of an vase running through the stand, glue another shot glass to the center of the smaller plate.

And that's it!

Have fun!

Welcome to 1995

I was helping my mom clean out a room in the house earlier today when I found a stack of continuous printer paper in a box.  WHOA FLASHBACK!  Remember all the fun things we would do with the perforated edges?  (or was it just me because I was lame like that?)

The discovery begs the question--why in the world have we saved this stack of paper for over ten years? We don't even have a printer to use it anymore.  Actually, as I type that, I have a premonition that the dead carcass of our old printer is probably hidden somewhere in the house, too.

So this is where my inability to throw anything away comes from....

Wedding Cupcake Craze Part 2 of 3: Cupcake Toppers

In addition to making fun cupcake wrappers, you can top your cupcakes with anything that stays glued to a toothpick.  Here, I've made flowered cupcake wrappers because I was running with my red poppy theme, but the basic topper is so simple you can make different shapes and signs to convey various themes and messages.

Cupcake Project #2: Red Poppy Toppers

Materials:

• red and black cardstock
• toothpicks
• glue (Elmer's is just fine)
• paper punches (1 large and 1 small flower)

Steps:

1. Punch flowers out of cardstock.  You will need two large red flower and one small black flower for each toothpick.

2. Glue small black flower onto the front of a large black flower.  (Maybe use less glue than I did...? =)

3. With a large dollop of glue, place a toothpick in between the two flowers and press lightly.

4.  Once the glue dries, insert toothpick into the top of your cupcake and you're done!

TIPS:

~ Be patient with the glue--let the topper lie flat until completely dry, or you risk parts of the topper shifting due to the power of gravity and wet glue

~ Be sanitary!  Since these will be inserted into edible goods, make sure your toothpicks are only handled on clean surfaces.  Consider using gloves and laying the toothpicks on separate parchment paper to dry.

So simple and fun, I can't wait to make different kinds of cupcake toppers!  Part 3 will feature an easy DIY cupcake stand with the plate that was the source of my inspiration. =)

Have fun! =)

Wedding Cupcake Craze Part 1 of 3: DIY Cupcake Wrappers

For some reason, this red poppy plastic plate from Target got my creative juices flowing.  I love the dramatic combination of red, black, and white, and so I've used those colors to make these cupcake-related projects (and probably went a little overboard with the theme, but you get the idea!)

Cupcake Project #1: Cupcake Wrappers

The continued popularity of cupcakes remains strong--you see specialty cupcakes stores everywhere nowadays!  They pop up in weddings in lieu of tiered wedding cakes or as wedding favors to take home.  Making your own cupcake wrappers is a simple and fun way to incorporate your wedding theme into your cupcakes and to make them look even fancier!

Materials:

- Cupcake wrapper template (Template from Offbeat Bride)

- Decorative paper/Paper doily

- Scissors/Decorative edge scissors

- Glue

- Optional: paper punches

Paper Doily Cupcake Wrapper:

Use the cupcake template to trace along the edge of a paper doily, cut it out, and glue edges together.

Decorate Edge Cupcake Wrapper:

Paper Punch Cupcake Wrappers:

* These are Martha Stewart paper punches that you can get at any general crafts store like Michael's or Joann Fabrics.

And that's all there is to it!  (Please excuse my terrible job at icing my cupcakes!)  Part 2 will feature simple cupcake toppers.

Have fun!

DIY White Vases from Recycled Bottles

I have wanted to make these vases for awhile, but couldn't figure out exactly how I wanted to do them--Al has patiently put up with my collection of glass bottles as I experimented with creating these textured white vases.  Using just spray paint and puffy paint, you can turn your old glass bottles into fun vases.

Materials: glass bottles, spray paint, puffy paint, and a paint brush

Tip: Soak the glass bottles in warm water to help remove the labels.  If you are planning on making a completely textured vase, you don't need to be as meticulous in removing the adhesive since it will all be covered.

The Original Vase-- This is the idea I first saw, from which the other vase ideas came about.

1.  Spray paint the entire bottle with your desired color.  It is better to spray on layers rather than a thick coat to cover the glass.  If you spray the paint too thickly, the paint will run and you won't have a smooth surface.  Give each layer about 4 hours to dry before spraying on the next layer.

2.  Use puffy paint to paint on a dotted pattern.  Allow to dry, and you're done!

Vase Version 2:

 I wanted to create a texture over the whole vase, so I reversed the steps by applying puffy paint first, and then spray-painting the vase.  The pictures are pretty self explanatory: I used a brush to spread globs of puffy paint all over the glass bottle.  In the other two vases, I experimented with creating other effects such as rings around the vase and a scalloped pattern.

Simple wedding centerpieces: 
Line up rows of vases with a large bloom and you can have an economic and unique centerpiece for your reception:

Have fun!