Just Veggies - Greek Style

A few weeks ago I had picked up a small amount of the greek salad from Whole Foods ... it was so dang good, I was really upset to finish it ... I was adding cooked, diced chicken to it to make it a meal and make it last a little longer ...

I know the dressing they used has sugar ... how could it not? They also put feta cheese in, which is fine in the small amount that was used. AND they added olives, which in MY book, is NOT fine. I really do not like olives. To the point where they can pretty much 'contaminate' the food mixed with them ... ::shudder:: sorry .... can't help it.

So anyways. The base of the salad was just green peppers, red onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta cheese and the dressing. And it should be noted, the veggies weren't swimming ... which is the way I prefer things!

I really wanted to make my own. Heck, it's $7.99 a pound at Whole Foods. Isn't that enough motivation to make you want to make your own? Oh, yeah, that and the potential amount of sugar involved helps too!

I've been eating this like every other day. Either as my lunch or a mid day snack ... it's all veggies so it's pretty damn good for you, I'd say!

Here's how I've been making it ...

1 1/2 green pepper, cut into bite size chunks
1 1/2 red pepper
1/2 red onion, cut into bite size chunks, and then divide the layers up
1 cucumber, peeled and then chunked (if a lot of seeds, scoop out with spoon)
1 tomato (can't find any decent tomatoes lately) quartered, seeds removed and then cut into bite size pieces
Salt and pepper and fresh basil chopped if you have.  No biggie if you don't, but I love fresh herbs ...

I use two different dressings ... variety is the spice of life, after all!

Option one: Take some olive oil and balsamic vinegar and mix a small, equal amounts in small bowl. Add a dash of salt, taste. I do about 2 tbs of each...

Option Two: Take about 3 tbs of olive oil and 2 tbs red wine vinegar and combine the two. Add a bit of dried oregano and a dash of salt and pepper as desired. IF you are not opposed to sugar, add a little sugar but it's not really missed too much if you don't.

When ready to eat the veggies, drizzle the dressing mix over, mix well and enjoy.

Try not to do like ME in this case and use something that's a tad too small for all the veggies. I ended up putting in to another bowl to mix it up ...

This has been really satisfying and gives me a good feeling that I'm feeding myself something that is pretty much all natural and unprocessed. Grain free? Check. Sugar free? Check. Frugal? Check?

Another day, another batch (this time, I didn't take the seeds out of the tomatoes, they weren't that juicy.

Not to mention, it's making me eat MORE veggies, which we all know I need :-)

TIP: To remove the seeds from your cucumbers, just take a spoon and scrape it down the center, or if the cucumber is smaller, just scoop them out.

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