blue artichoke

Okay, okay, there is no place called Saladhouse or Saladhouse Rocks, but wouldn't that be cool?

I was going to say that the salad my friend Purple Jambalaya made the other day simply rocked. But then I thought of Schoolhouse Rocks and thus the subject line was born.

I figured I would let you all know this recipe, which came from her cooking magazine (which was NOT Southern Living but something very similar... Gourmet?). If someone finds it, I will gladly correct and post proper authorship. For now, it is simply:

PJ's Spicy Salad

Dressing:
1/2 cup picante sauce
1/4 cup italian salad dressing
1/4 tsp cumin

Salad:
4 c spinach
15 oz can (rinsed, drained) black beans
1 c sliced mushrooms
1 med sweet red pepper
1/2 c sliced red onion
8 strips crumbled bacon
4 hard boiled eggs, sliced

Mix the dressing well. Keep separate from salad and allow people to serve themselves.

Totally not kosher, by the way, as you'll notice the bacon above. Kasher the meal by leaving out the bacon.

What you're probably wondering is "what's the difference between picante sauce and salsa?" Well, easy. Picante sauce says it's picante sauce on the label. Oh, and it's typically more pureed than salsa, so you don't have as many chunks in it.

I have to say I am NOT a salad person nor am I a vegetable person, but this salad was so incredible I had three helpings and totally picked at the rest of my plate of meat. Seriously. It was sooooooo good.

Obviously it would be best if paired with a strongly-flavoured Mexican-style dish. It's pretty powerful.

And making my mouth water thinking about it.

Getting to Know All About You: In other news, does anyone need a roommate or know someone that needs a roommate or knows of a place in DC that's cheap yet nice and close to the Metro or American University?