-A modified version of chow.com's Three Bean Salad : navy beans instead of cannellini beans, and balsamic vinegar instead of sherry vinegar (both changes due to time constraints and my laziness in finding all of the correct ingredients, rather than due to taste).
-Quinoa, always a class act, with a last minute topping of minced nuts (from a typival "party mix": cashew, walnut, and hazelnut) and raisins
-Sauteed kale with salt and pepper
-Glass of soy milk
THE VERDICT:
DELICIOUS! Separate, the quinoa/nut/kale and beans were each brimming with flavor, but towards the end, I followed the typical vegan example and just mixed everything together like a maniac. (After years of partitioned plates, I HIGHLY recommend the vegan attitude of mixing everything together into a little mass of delicious.) This turned out to be the best option. The sweetness of the bean salad and the nutty flavor of the quinoa and, well, the nuts, were great compliments. I was especially thrilled to find how much the chopped nuts added to the quinoa. As I threw everything together, I scavenged the kitchen to find a source for extra flavor besides the salt shaker (high blood pressure runs in my family too, don'tcha know). Thankfully, I spotted the bag of raw nuts from the local vegan co-op that I normally put on my afternoon salad. I had been worried that the kale/quinoa mix would be bland, especially since I had forgotten to throw garlic in the skillet before putting in the kale to steam. However, I almost rather have it this way. With flecks of cashew on it, I found the kale DELICIOUS despite my preconceptions about the green. (Side anecdote: My second year at school, I prepared a specific meal almost every night for dinner: sauteed kidney beans and kale with a little bit of balsamic vinegar, piled on top of pasta. As one might expect after a month or so of eating the same meal, I grew tired of it and forgot it for a time. Later, I decided to revive the meal and somehow undercooked the kale, leading me to spend the rest of the evening doubled over in stomach pain. I've felt mildly betrayed by kale ever since.)
All in all, the dish had every flavor I was looking for. The past couple of days, my normally loud sweet tooth has gotten even louder thanks to my turning away from brownies and the lot. So, it was fantastic to have some subtle sugar from the bean salad. The quinoa/kale/nut combination put it over the top.
Definitely a WILL REPEAT.
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