It's my zen zone. I need to go a few times a month or I'm out of sorts. I didn't stay too long. There was a cold chill in the breeze. I plopped my chair on the sand and had my little picnic. I made an Italian version of my Cannelini Bean Salad. The waves were pretty big but a little choppy. The surfers weren't having much luck. I listening to my Ipod for awhile but decided after about 10 songs I had enough zen.
Make this salad it rocks... I'm going to hit the seafood market this week and try it with grilled shrimp or smoked albacore.
Shelly's Italian Bean Salad
1 can (15 oz.) Cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup fresh Mozzarella balls (I got the mini ones at Trader Joe's or just 1/2 the bigger ones)
1/2 cup Cucumber, diced
1 Tomato, diced
1/4 of a small Red Onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon Oregano
1 Tablespoon fresh Basil, chopped
a few twists of freshly ground Black Pepper
Kosher Salt to taste
2 Tablespoons Storebought Pesto Sauce
2 Tablespoons Storebought Balsamic Dressing
Combine all ingredients and chill. Can also be made with leftover grilled chicken breast, cold shrimp, salmon or smoked albacore to bump up the protein. You can eat it just as it is like I did from a plastic bowl with a plastic fork staring at the mighty blue Pacific Ocean's crashing waves or spoon on top of a green salad or it can also be made into a tortilla wrap.
Highlights of the day:
* Found kick butt parking (owning a tiny matchbox car in a world of SUVs has it's advantages tight squeeze spots are left for me) at the very busy Carlsbad Starbuck's and they also had a shelf full of my Sugar Free Cinnamon Dolce Syrup for sale so I stocked up. It's very yummy in ricotta cheese and Fage yogurt. I use it in my Dunkin Donuts coffee I make at home all day. So I blow through a bottle pretty fast.
* Was forced to go to Walmart today. You know how I avoid that store like the plague on the weekend but it actually was a pleasant in and out experience with a short line, minimal screaming children and no one blocking the aisle with their carts having squeaky high pitched voice conversations "Oooooooh Jane how have you beeeeeeen"
* The World According to Eggface got it's 100,000th hit today. That was neat. Feel free to comment and say hey.
Listening to: Lenny Kravitz "I'll be waiting" whoa to have someone write a song like this for you.