Recipe of the Week: BLACK LENTIL AND COUSCOUS SALAD

I found this awesome recipe from Cooking Light. It is a light, meat free kind of meal. Actually this is the first time I have ever eaten black lentils. YUM! This dish was easy to make and I will definitely be making it again! I liked it because I felt healthy eating it and most veggie dished I make have tons of cheese in it. This one didn't! Ps-I left out the raisins b/c i don't like them.

I'm also sending this to my bff blogger friend at http://carving-tree.blogspot.com/ Check out her site- it is awesome!

1/2 cup dried black lentils

5 cups water, divided

3/4 cup uncooked couscous

3/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered

1/3 cup raisins

1/3 cup finely chopped red onion

1/3 cup finely chopped cucumber

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

3 TBSP chopped fresh mint

1 teaspoon grated lemon rind

3 TBSP fresh lemon juice

2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

1. Rinse lentils with cold water; drain. Place lentils and 4 cups of water in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 mins. or until tender. Drain and rinse with cold water; drain.

2. Bring remaining 1 cup water to a boil in a med saucepan; gradually stir in couscous and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Remove from Heat; cover and let stand 5 mins. Fluff with fork. Combine lentils, couscous, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, tomatoes, and remaining ingredients in a large bowl.

Yield: 6 servings (1 cup each)

calories 175; fat 4.8g, protein 4.5g; carb 28.8g, fiber 2.8g, chol 0mg; iron 1mg; sodium 322mg,

This recipe can also be found online at: http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1842312

Slaying the Dragon

The Joy of Cooking is one of the most famous cookbooks in America. As fun as cooking can be, sometimes it is a daunting task...especially when you get home from work at 7, and still have to run to the grocery store!

This is the cover of the edition in 1931. Haha- it is an illustration of a woman 'slaying the dragon of kitchen drudgery'! How perfect and fabulous! I love it! It has inspired me to do a recipe of the week... Bon Appetit!

Grey is the new Black

At least as far as nailpolish goes. I have been searching since Christmas 08(!) for a fabulous grey nailpolish. I am happy to report I finally found it! Sally Hansen's Gunmetal 22! It is the perfect color I had been looking for, not too shiney, and it's under $6! I found it at Harris Teeter (my local grocery store) but I am sure you would be able to find it at any CVS or Walgreens. Yes, it is fabulous!

Rachel Roy, Where Are You?

Rachel Roy has created the Rachel Rachel Roy collection to hit macy's stores this fall. This line includes everything: apparel, footwear, handbags and jewelry. The affordable line will retail from $59-$250.

I went to Macy's today very excited to see the colletion, only to find out that no one had any idea what, or who, I was talking about :( ...so maybe I jumped the gun and was a little too early?!

Everything looks so cute! Macy's I will be back in September for the faux fur vest...and the gold mini skirt...and the black mini dress...and the necklaces...hee!

Stella McCartney Reminds Us Fashion is Fun!

Stella McCartney's fall 09 ads are fabulous! They remind us that fashion shouldn't be taken so seriously! I really like these ads, they make me happy. Can you image how boring these pictures would be if she hadn't added the Disney characters! The pictures, from WWD, were taken by photographer Ryan McGinley.

Date Night!

I gots a date tonight! YAY!

I just got these shooties (a Rachel Zoe-ism for shoes + booties) from Target, and would love to wear them tonight! Now I just need to figure out the rest of my outfit!

NC Museum of Art

I went to the North Carolina Museum of Art last week. Check it out www.ncartmuseum.org. My bff B and I had a great time! There were so many things to look at and it was FREE to get in! We spent a couple of hours there and here were some of the things we liked...

The picture above is of a plane made out of hanging butterflys and flowers. Each flower and butterfly is suspended from their own steel cable. It was amazing and so colorful. This was my favorite. It was way cooler to see in real life!

This lady was watching us the whole time we were there. I think she was listening to our conversation! haha!

Angry Crocodile! This would be so cool to have in my house! I love him and want him to be my pet. So angry and so cute too!

I also saw this great old painting from the 1400 of a king. He looked like a little boy king, but he had the most beautiful shoes I have ever seen (at least in a painting anyways). I am still looking for the painting, and will post it when i find it!

So if you are looking for a fun cheap thing to do this summer- go to your local art museum. You may have a better time than you think!