Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Radish, Carrot, Mint and Feta

Saturday - One of my favorite days of the week. It is neatly stacked in between Friday and Sunday. You don’t have to worry about going to work, but rather plan to do things that make you happy.

Last evening Friday, we had planned to just stay home and relax, like our typically wine and appetizer evening celebration to the start of the weekend. My hubby took the day off from work and I traveled about the bay with several client appointments.

Perhaps there was bad traffic karma in the air yesterday, since each destination I headed to, had horrible traffic. With summer full steam ahead, traffic should be lighter, not yesterday. At the end of the day, I decided to reward myself with a productive day, by heading home a tad earlier than normal.

My hubby let me know that a friend of ours called and was headed to Tahoe for the weekend, but yet again that traffic karma was in the air and she inquired if we all wanted to get together. We let her know that she was welcome to head over to our house and wait out the traffic. We opened a bottle of our friend Geoff’s handcrafter beer and it was too perfect for the warm weather on the other side of the wall. We visited and caught up until she was ready to hit the great highway.

About an hour later, our good friends and neighbors came over to wine and appetizers. I put together an array of Trader Joe’s delights. No real cooking for me that night, just pure relaxation with friends while sipping divine wine. We enjoyed a bottle of “The Creator” from K Vintners in Walla Walla Washington.

(From Google Images)

This powerful wine is comprised of 43% cabernet sauvignon from one vineyard, stonerdige and 21% cabernet sauvignon from the calliloux vineyard along with 35% syrah. It has flavor notes of black current, iron, tobacco, cedar and anise. It is ripe and rich with hints of cherry and spices. It has a very elegant finish with supreme balance. The aromas are reminiscent of smoke, incense, mineral and blueberry. Overall a very structured and palate pleaser that will develop over the next five years.

This salad is a perfect fresh and lively salad to serve either as a starter or dinner salad. The bright mint and creamy feta just add to the crunch of the vegetables for a completely satisfying salad. Enjoy!

Sugar Snap Pea Salad with Radish, Carrot, Mint and Feta

Serves 4

Salad

¾ C. Carrots, peeled and sliced thin
6 oz. Sugar Snap Peas, sliced on the bias
¾ C. Radishes, trimmed and sliced thin
½ C. Feta, crumbled
1 T. Mint, chiffonade thin

In a medium bowl, add all of the above ingredients and set aside in the refrigerator until ready to toss with the dressing.

Dressing

1 Garlic clove, minced to a paste
1 T. Lemon juice
1 t. Balsamic vinegar
3 T. Olive oil
Salt
Fresh ground pepper

On a cutting board, mash the garlic and then begin to mince and add a pinch of salt. This will increase the paste effect. Continue to mince until it is so fine, it resembles a paste quality. Add to a small bowl along with all of the other ingredients. Add the salt and pepper to taste. Mix and let sit for 30 minutes to develop the flavors.

When ready to serve, drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss. Serve either individually or in a large bowl. If you have hungry guests or serving as a main dish, you might want to consider doubling the recipe.

Adapted from “A good appetite: Resistance is futile, sweet pea” – NY times