Yield: 4 servings

The flavor of this simple and pretty salad–which may be served warm, cold, or room temperature–belies its throw-together-quick origins.

I always called broccoli prepared this way “roasted,” but the new term in culinary magazines is “charred” and I liked that for a fun change.  Whatever you call it, you will love it!

Note:  This salad is delectable as is, but if you like a little more salt, add about 6 oil cured black olives, pitted and chopped.  Olives and dried figs are one of the world’s great marriages of flavor.

2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

About 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets

2 8-inch long very slender Japanese eggplants, sliced diagonally 1/2-inch thick

Sea salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1-15.5 ounce can cannelini or other white beans, rinsed and drained

4 dried Mission figs, stems removed and quartered

1 teaspoon Balsamic vinegar

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or if you really like the “bite” of raw garlic, 1 small clove minced)

Optional: 6 oil cured black olives, pitted and chopped

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.  Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to a metal roasting pan (I like to use my large cast iron skillet).  Add broccoli, eggplant, and a pinch of salt and pepper, toss, and roast for 20 minutes, stirring after 10, or until lightly charred.  Remove from oven and transfer vegetables to a medium bowl.  Add all remaining ingredients, adjust seasoning if necessary, toss gently to combine, and serve warm, cold (chill, covered) or room tempeature (my favorite).

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

During the first full week of August, I was in MS visiting my family.  They live in Laurel, a small town in Jones County, 90 miles north of the coastal towns of Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, etc.  If you watched Hurricane Katrina coverage in 2005, these town names, in addition to New Orleans, may be familiar to you.

Despite being so far inland, then governor of the state, Haley Barbour, declared Jones County the hardest hit of any area outstide the immedate coastal strike zone due to the number of tornadoes spawned by the storm system.

Because of damage to their home, my parents and sister were displaced for nearly a year; but they were fortunate to find a lovely rental home near downtown on 6th Avenue, my favorite street in Laurel, where we spent Christmas that year.

Once you have lived through something like that, you never want to be without prepared foods in the house that don’t absolutely require refrigeration or cooking, at least not until opened.  So, there is a always still a plethora of canned goods about which I tease them good naturedly.  I love to cook for them–and they seem to enjoy it too–so I am frequently creating new dishes, like this one, from their “storm cellar.”

Feel free to cook your rice or other grain “to order,” and use fresh corn but, trust me, this salad is really delicious with the prepared rice and canned corn.  It was inspired by a salad I saw on an airport menu as I dashed through ATL on the way to see them.  All I saw was “Corn and Peanut Salad.”  I have no idea what else might have been in it or what it tasted like, but it doesn’t much matter, as this one is first class (get it?).

1-8.5 ounce package Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice: Whole Grain Medley:  Quinoa and Brown Rice with Garlic (or 2 cups cooked grain of your choice)

1-15.5 ounce cans corn, rinsed and drained (or 2 cups cooked corn, fresh or frozen)

1 cup dry roasted peanuts

1 large tomato, cored and diced

1-2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely slivered or chopped

Sea Salt to taste

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Optional garnish: fresh basil sprigs

In a medium bowl, gently toss together all ingredients except olive oil and white wine vinegar.  In a small cup or bowl, whisk together olive oil and vinegar.  Drizzle over salad and toss again to combine.  Refrigerate, covered, for 2 or more hours to marry flavors.

I good naturedly tease my family in MS about their “storm cellar,” i.e. a plethora of canned goods, no doubt the “aftermath” of having lived through Hurricane Katrina, including displacement from their home for nearly t a year.

When I visit, as I did the first week of this month, I enjoy cooking for them and challenge myself to use what they have on  hand, as with this salad, which I prepared for a luncheon in honor of our dear family friend, Lisa Thames.  My mom made her famous Black Bean Soup, my sister her coveted Key Lime Pie, and my dad provided the wine–yep, wine at lunch for a special occasion such as this.

Even without the soup, pie, and wine, you’ll love this colorful salad.  And my sister, a hominy fan, will be glad I finally posted it!

Yield:   4 to 6 servings as a main course

1-10 ounce package frozen broccoli, completely thawed and drained

1-15.5 ounce can chickpeas, rinsed and drained

1-15 ounce can white hominy, rinsed and drained

1 larged tomato, cored and diced

Dressing (recipe follows)

Gently combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  Drizzle dressing over, and toss again gently to distribute.  Check for seasoning and adjust if necessary.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to marry.

Dressing:

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 teaspoon maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Sea salt to taste

Black pepper to taste

Whisk together all ingredients in a small, non-reactive bowl or cup.