A nice whole grain, nutritious, and flavorful salad~

First of all, you need to cook your wheat berries by combining 1 3/4 cups water with 1/2 cup rinsed soft white wheat berries and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a pan.  Bring to a rolling boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer for one hour or until tender.  Drain and set aside to cool.

((I used Bob’s Red Mill wheat berries, and this is the recipe on the back of the bag.))

Wheat Berry and White bean Salad

Salad:  1 cup cooked wheat berries
1 cup cooked white or navy beans (I used one whole 15oz can of white beans)
1/2 cup green onion, chopped (I used regular minced fresh onion)
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1/2 cup tomato, diced (if you’re still trying to use up summer’s bounty, you can increase tomato)

Vinaigrette:
1/2 cup olive oil
2 T. lemon or lime juice
2 T. white wine vinegar
2 T. chopped parsley
1 T. honey mustard (I used 1 T. honey plus a half teaspoon of mustard)
2 T. minced shallot (I omitted)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Mix the vinaigrette by combining all the ingredients with a whisk or blender.  Add the salad ingredients and mix well.  Let chill several hours or overnight.

I’m not the only one who liked it; my sister in law asked for the recipe, & Rich liked it, too.
The four of us went to Sturbridge this afternoon to get coffee and visit the Yankee Candle seconds store.  It’s becoming a yearly trip for us and quite fun.  Fall weather is beginning here in New England, the air is clear and hot during the day,  chilling down at night.  We also visited a few other quaint shops, too.

Now we are home.  Isaac and Cassandra left and Rich and I are reading on the porch.  I’m wearing soft wool socks which feel extra comfy after a day in flip flops, a pair of sweat pants, and a gray shirt.  Hair up in a ponytail/bun.

Caleb is frying hamburgers for himself and the kids– and I can smell them through the open window.  The neighbor boys just left with hamburgers in their hands.

There is a cool breeze and over in another chair is our cat busy giving himself a groom.

Rich is reading a book about Revelation.  Our arms are touching.

I heard an owl hooting!  Every few seconds it does it again, it’s off in the distance in the woods and I wish I could see it.  There are quite a few birds in the garden taking seeds from the hanging sunflowers.  I wish owls liked sunflowers seeds.

I should go get my camera and take pictures of the birds.

Make the salad!

xo