Ambika’s super-wonderful Bean Salad (because everything associated with Ambika is super-wonderful!)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 can black beans
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can mixed beans (some stores have these, if not, pick another kind of bean you like)
• 1 can Hearts of Palm sliced into bite-sized pieces (you could substitute artichoke hearts, but HOP are so good)
• 1-2 ears of corn with kernels cut off the cob (depending on how big they are and how much corn you like)
• Half a basket of cherry tomatoes or small teardrop tomatoes sliced in half. You could use regular tomatoes, just cut them into small pieces
• Half a medium sized red onion chopped
• Chopped cilantro to your liking

THE VINAIGRETTE:

• Juice of 1-2 Limes
• Olive oil
• Spices
  • Cumin
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Cayenne Pepper if you want a little kick

THE HOW TO:

1. Rinse all of the caned ingredients and let them dry a bit – to keep the salad from getting watery
2. Slice corn off the cob
3. Chop onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and hearts of palm
4. Basically throw all of the ingredients together in a big bowl
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together equal parts lime juice and olive oil (add more lime juice if you like it to be zestier). You’ll need about a half cup or more of vinaigrette to flavor all of the beans and goodies.
6. Add spices to the vinaigrette – I have no idea what proportions, I do it by sight and taste. Start off with a little and keep adding until it tastes good to you J
7. Pour the vinaigrette over all of the beans, veggies, etc. and mix. Season to taste (might need more salt and pepper). If you feel like it’s too try, pour a little more olive oil and/or lime juice on and mix it again.
8. Keep it in the fridge until you’re going to serve. Flavors with develop more overnight and it might dry out a little. If it does, add more olive oil.

If anyone, or I, ever need a laugh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

Ok, another post just to make sure the xanga world knows that i'm still around. Is it significant that i have an intense fear that my xanga will somehow cease to exist. Like my history will be wipped out? or something like that. I think it goes back to my issue with there being no record or my existence or no whitnesses, or something. That's why i ultimately have to keep a roommate. and it works out for them (whoever that might be) because i'm awesome...haha!

Ahh, the semester's over. Survival. And let's just say i could not imagine a prettier weekend to celebrate. Honestly, the sun was perfect, the breeze was delicious. Food was tasty, champagne poolside, um, wonderful. My girlies in town for a few days. A night on the town....fun without being crazy drunk. A tiny bit of drama to watch go down. Overall, amazing. I could not have been happier had i planned every moment.

Which gets to the point here. Regardless of all of the things that i feel like i'm missing, or want or don't have or am bothered by, i'm overall, pretty happy. In lots of ways, these days, i couldn't imagine a better life. I mean, it could be better, sure. But the point is that it IS actually GETTING better. and that's all i need to keep me happy. Progress.

This comes to another point. I think i'm starting to feel like myself and let go of the things that i don't like...or the people who overly complicate things. I can't really figure out which came first, the letting go of crap or the taking hold of my life. Either way, it's a good move on my part. Bravo, me!