Great Grains deserve Great Dressing

For an easy dressing for farro, quinoa, or barley salad, whisk together the following:

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbs dijon mustard
1/4-1/2 tsp salt
a few grinds of pepper

Pair this dressing with any cold or room temperature grain (already cooked) for a great side or even a main course. This salad also packs well for picnics. I tossed the dressing with quinoa, green beans, black olives and feta for the salad pictured above. Red, yellow, or green bell peppers, peas, cherry/grape tomatoes, and artichokes also work well with grains. If you have any other combos you like to use with your grains, please let me know!

Speaking of caterpillars...

Look what I found munching on my tomato plant!


It is, of course, now in a container on my counter where, for the past five days, it has been fed a steady diet of tomato branches mostly because I am fascinated by how much the thing can eat--and how quickly it goes to town on those leaves. As a result of his steady gorging, Mr. Hookworm is ginormous. I almost fear for my cat.

Shall we name him? Any suggestions? I kind of like Captain Hookworm...

The far reaching effects of half-assed vegetarianism on my children

My three-year-old made this at preschool:

AWESOME.