Really, I CAN Cook

It's potluck season in my department. Usually, I end up buying something because I don't have enough time to make anything. But last Sunday, I actually came home from dinner out and spent an hour or so making Baby Potato and Watercress Salad. On a whim, I'd purchased a package of watercress earlier in the week--and I knew if I didn't use it soon, it would rot. I did a websearch for watercress salad and came up with a number of results; this one looked delicious, so I decided to try it, even though I'd never made potato salad before. The result? YUM! I liked the shallot infused dressing (and I had some leftover which I've been putting on salads this week) and the combination of watercress, potato, and egg.

I think everyone else enjoyed it, too, since I had very little of it left. I also quickly made a pickled veggie, garbanzo bean, and fresh tomato salad. Although I usually dress this type of salad, I decided to leave it plain. Surprisingly, most of this less showy dish was also eaten. The best dish of the evening, though, was Lisa's Beluga Lentil Salad. When Lisa told me how easy it was to make, I decided to go to Trader Joe's to get some Beluga Lentils. Alas, they seemed to be out. I'll continue to look for this kind of lentil, though--black and shiny with a nutty taste. Lisa combined the lentils with halved grape tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, parsley, and lemon juice (Lisa, did I get that right?). So simple and so good.

Also a hit was my ITunes Potluck Playlist. I threw it together, combining a variety of genres of music. My taste in music is quite eclectic--even more so than my playlist since I only selected pieces I thought would work as background. Both Kyle and Mike complemented me on the music--and I think everyone had a nice time at the potluck.

Red Dust from the album "Simple Things" by Zero 7