Chalk One Up For The Lunar

We were peeling off the little stickers on our Mrs. Dash containers. Or, rather, The Grand Lunar was. I peeled one off in hopes that it was a coupon (which I could then stick to the fridge and never remember to use). But when it wasn't a coupon I left it sitting on the table, didn't actually read it, and forgot what it said.

But The Grand Lunar hates stickers on things, so he was peeling them off to purify the outside of the containers. And, being a smart man, he actually looked at it. Turns out it had some recipes. I immediately scoffed, sure that they would all be meatocentric dishes. But they weren't! And The Lunar said he liked the sound of one.

Now I'll admit I was suspicious, I didn't think I'd like it. Potatoes, green beans, and honey mustard? I'll let you in on a secret of my skepticism ~ I've only been willingly eating mustard for a few years, in my childhood it was one of my very vocally forbidden M's ~ mustard, mayo, and mushrooms. Don't even TRY to sneak them into my food. But I'm a little older and perhaps wiser, and have learned to actually try foods with mustard or mayo in them (not mushrooms, though. Let's not go crazy.) and discovered I don't always hate them. But I'm even newer to honey mustard. Why would you mix something good with something bad? Because, as it turns out, it's not bad. Really!

So anyway. I didn't think I'd like it much, but I try to try the things The Lunar suggests would be good. He's very often right. He's a smart man, that Grand Lunar.

And so, as it was with Cowboy Caviar, which I thought for SURE I'd blogged about but can't find, so I'll have to sheepishly post it later. Sheepishly because it's definitely not plant based (although plants make a fine showing!) nor low fat nor dairy / animal product free. It IS, however, an excellent appetizer. It doesn't sound good, but it IS good, really, it is. You should try it. But I digress. Back to Mrs. Dash.

It was really good! It was supposedly for a make-ahead-cold-salad, only we ate it hot, fresh from cooking, and I heated the sauce before mixing it in. Only the tomatoes were cold. And it was really good! I guess I already said that. Good pick, Grand Lunar!!

Here's the Recipe:

This isn't strictly vegan due to the honey-mustard, but I'm sure you could make your own dijon mustard sauce with agave nectar or something non-honey, if bee barf, of whatever it is, freaks you out. Me, I don't mind honey. Kind of like it, I must admit.

Name: Mrs. Dash Garden Potato Salad
Source: Mrs. Dash Herself

Course: Lunch or Dinner
Category: McDougall Friendly

Description: Serves 8. Per Serving: 98 cal, 0 g. fat, 0 g. sat. fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 173 mg sodium, 21 g. carbs, 2 g protein, 3 g fiber, 525 mg potassium

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs Small new potatoes unpeeled
2 cups whole green beans (I used ~3 cups, I think)
2 1/2 tablespoons Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb Seasoning Blend
1 cup Cherry Tomatoes quartered
1/3 cup green onions sliced
1/2 cup Fat-free honey Dijon mustard salad dressing *
1 tablespoon lemon juice

* I used a honey-mustard, rather than a salad dressing ~ would you believe that all the salad dressings had either a lot of sodium, added oils, or one even had anchovies?!?!?. Emeril's was one sale for the same price as store brand!

Directions:

1: Cook potatoes 8 minutes in large pot of boiling water

2: Add green beans. Cook another 5-6 minutes until vegetables are done

3: Drain and rinse in cold water (I did not rinse to cool)

4: Combine with remaining ingredients; mix well (I mixed the honey mustard, lemon juice, Mrs. Dash seasoning, and green onions and heated it 1 minute in the microwave)

**5: Refrigerate, covered, 2-3 hours to allow flavors to blend

** we actually skipped this step, and ate it while the potatoes, green beans, and sauce were still warm. It was very good! It would also be good served cold, a nice alternative to a potato salad.

Thanks, Grand Lunar!