Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Salad #KitchenMatrixCookingProject

Garden Ripe Tomatoes tossed with Crunchy Romaine Lettuce and laced with Smoky Bacon Bits, this salad is like a BLT minus the bread.

Is there anything better in the world than freshly picked Tomatoes?   Not in my world........

Potato and Pea Salad #FarmersMarketWeek

Made with a tangy buttermilk dressing, flecked with fresh herbs and wrapped around tender baby redskin potatoes this salad is sure to become a new family favorite......

Welcome to Farmer's Market Week with the Gang from Festive Foodies.......

Soupe au Pistou paired with Rosé #SoupSaturdaySwappers #Winophiles

Who says soup is only for the wintertime?  It would be a shame to miss out on all of the wonderful summer veggies available at Farmer's Markets across the Country right now.

This wonderful soup inspired by the Provence area of France is the perfect summer dinner choice. Especially when paired with a Rosé wine from the same region.

Grilled Ratatouille #FoodieExtravaganza

This month our Foodie Extravaganza group is celebrating National Fruits and Veggies month.  This party is being hosted by Ellen of Family Around the Table.

I decided to make one of my favorite vegetable dishes, Ratatouille. Ratatouille is normally stewed but for today's event I decided to grill it.

Four Bean Salad for #SundaySupper

This month, the Sunday Supper crew requested that we provide recipes that will help our readers get ready for the last hurrah of the season, Labor Day.

Labor Day is often the last big grill out event of the year.  Then kids start back to school, sports commence and fall starts to creep into the air. Grills, picnic tables and pools are replaced with Fire pits, lawn chairs and hot tubs.  I'm not ready for summer to end yet but autumn has almost gotten me entranced with the thought of cool, crisp air and long walks with the leaves crunching under my feet.

I decided to share a side dish that is perfect with whatever you decide to throw on the grill, from hotdogs to steaks.  I served mine up with the best barbecued Baby Back Ribs ever.

It helps you use up some of the beans that are prolific right now in your gardens or at roadside stands and farmer's markets.  I used a combination of yellow and green beans but you can use any fresh beans that you like and/or have on hand.  I have made this with soy beans, purple beans and fava beans.

You can also use whatever canned beans you happen to have in your cupboard, including green and yellow beans if you don't have fresh.  I happened to have kidney and garbanzo beans this time but I often use cannellini, northern, pinto and black beans.  You can have more than 4 kinds of beans as well, it just happened that these were what I had available.

There is not a lot of work involved.  Trim, halve and blanch the fresh beans.  Rinse the canned beans and chop your fresh herbs and veggies.

Toss it all together in a vinaigrette and chill until ready to serve or to take with you to your potluck. It is a great side salad when eating outdoors as there is nothing that needs to be kept cold and it can sit out without worry.

Four Bean Salad

1/2 lb each fresh green and yellow beans or 1 lb of either

1 (16 oz) can garbanzo beans

1 (16 oz) can kidney beans

1 stalk celery, diced

1/2 c. diced sweet onion

chopped fresh parsley, to taste

1/4 c. olive oil

1/4 c. red wine vinegar

2 T. sugar

salt and pepper to taste

Trim and halve the fresh beans.  Drop into boiling water for about 3 minutes.  Remove and immediately immerse into an ice bath.

Rinse the canned beans well and place into a large bowl.  Drain the fresh beans and add to the bowl with the canned beans.  Add the celery, onion and parsley to the bowl.

Place the olive oil, vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a small jar with a lid and shake until well combined. 

Pour over the beans and vegetables.  Toss to coat and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Print Recipe

Labor Day Menu Ideas

Scrumptious Labor Day Sides and Starters

• Foil Pack Grilled Potatoes by Hardly A Goddess
• Four Bean Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs by Sunday Supper Movement
• Pasta Salad with Baby Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes by Simple and Savory
• Sausage and Peppers Salad by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Shelly’s Pasta Salad by Soulfully Made
• Sour Cream and Onion Potatoes by Cricket’s Confections
• Thai Spiced Shrimp Cabbage Coleslaw by Food Lust People Love
• Zucchini Parmesan Foil Packets by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

Delicious Labor Day Entrees

• Malaysian Chicken Satay by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Grilled Hasselback Fajita Chicken by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
• Maple Turkey Burger with Cheddar, Bacon and Apple by Caroline’s Cooking
• Pork Spiedini Hoagies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Sous Vide Sirloin Steak with asparagus by Our Good Life
• Sriracha Deviled Crab Sandwich with Key Lime-Bacon Slaw by Gourmet Everyday
• Tom’s BBQ Spare Ribs with North Carolina BBQ Sauce by Recipes Food and Cooking
• Vietnamese Grilled Steak Salad by Palatable Pastime

Luscious Labor Day Desserts

• Blueberry Crisp Bars by Pies and Plots
• Fudgy Brownie Trifle with Chocolate Mousse by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Watermelon Treats by The Freshman Cook

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Marinated Bean Salad

Are you looking for an easy and seasonal side salad for you Labor Day Potluck?  Look no further because I, my friend, have you covered.

When I was last at the Farmers Market I bought a couple of bags of Green and Yellow Beans.  We have had them for dinner a couple of times but there are only 2 of us now and I haven't yet learned how to pare down my shopping.  Normally, I would just can or freeze the remaining beans but we are moving here in a few weeks and all my equipment is packed away.

I mentioned yesterday, when I posted my Weekly Menu, that we had a potluck rememberance for my cousin's wife to attend today.  Perfect way to use up the remaining beans.  This recipe is easy, peasy and very tasty.  You can easily make it your own by using your favorite beans and adding more or less varieties.  You can use fresh beans, canned beans, frozen beans or a mixture. You can use 3 beans as I did or add a couple more.  It is perfect for potlucks because, while it should chill for a few hours to meld the flavors, there is nothing that will go bad if it sits out for a few hours.

Marinated Bean Salad

1 lb green beans, trimmed, blanched and cut into uniform pieces
1 lb yellow beans, trimmed, blanched and cut into unifor pieces
1 (15 oz) can Great Northern bean, rinsed and drained
2 stalks celery, diced
1/2 lge bell pepper, diced
1/2 c. sweet onion, diced
1/2 c. apple cider vinegar
1/4 c. olive oil
3 T. sugar
1 t. garlic paste or 1 clove garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste

Combine beans, celery, bell pepper and onion in a large bowl.  In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, oil, sugar, garlic, salt and pepper.  Pour over bean mixture and toss to coat.  Let refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight before serving.  Print Recipe