Warning:   This post does NOT advocate brainwashing or corporal punishment.

Yes, I am still celebrating the end of school.  No more bricks in the wall here.

I am also still celebrating my attempt to do a Salad-a-Day theme during May and June.   My attempts usually fizzle out, but I am going to give the old college-try this year.

The inspiration for these recipes comes from a long ago Cooking Light magazine.

My first goal is to do all of these salads found on these pages.  (I have already featured Cherry-Almond Crunch, Nutty Beans and Greens and Peppery Perfect pasta salads.)

Mediterranean Medley Pasta Salad
based on recipe from Cooking Light

1 lb. pasta
2 T. Extra virign. olive oil
1 T. Balsamic
1/3 c. fresh basil, chopped
1 c. thinly sliced cucumber
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
1/4 c. Diced red onions
10 oz. halved cherry or grape tomatoes
4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
1/3 c kalamata olives, slightly chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Cook pasta according to directions and rinse under cold water.   Drain well.

I used three kinds of basil: large leaf, purple, and spicy globe.

Toss together all ingredients and serve.

I added a dash (more or less) of Balsamic to this mix as well as red onions and bell pepper.   Again, with all these salads, lots of pepper is recommended.

You can easily adjust the amount of pasta (more or less) and the amount of veggies (more or less) to your tastes and the amount of salad you might need.  I recently took this to a family graduation party and added a bit more cucumbers and tomatoes.

My second goal is to eat vegetable-laden salads for lunch during the summer work week at school.

No judgement here, please, but I often feel like the students in the above vintage video.   Wouldn’t it be great if educators could actually teach students and not have to worry about the latest legislative requirements and cuts?   As is often the case with educational mandates, they come unfunded.   As Oklahoma schools face an unprecedented funding crisis, my school (and others) are trying desperately to cut substantially without effecting student services.

Unfortunately, I think our state legislators do think we are just another brick in the wall.

For the other recipes featured from the Cooking Light pages, please see Nutty Beans and Greens, Cherry-Almond-Crunch Chicken and Pasta Salad, and Peppery Perfect Pasta Salad.