Holiday in the City

Yes, the Bitty Bebes and their accoutrement are in progress--disembodied for the time being while I finish sewing their teeny little arms and legs and torso.We love to spend the 4th in our fair city of Minneapolis. While everyone else is hightailin' it out of here to the big woods or their cabin on the lake, we dig our toes in and enjoy the urban emptiness. Tomorrow, we plan to play with our besties, swim, picnic, lay low and drink wine and ingratiate ourselves with summer. For our picnic lunch tomorrow, I am making my favorite salad--it is like a little dish of sunshine and fresh foliage--light and refreshing goodness. It is my Summer CousCous Salad...Here's the recipe so you too can enjoy some sunshine...
Mix together:

• 1 & 1/4 cup cooked and shelled edamame
• 1 whole diced red bell pepper
• 1 package or smallish block of feta cheese
• 2 cups of fresh baby spinach torn into bite sized pieces
• 1 tablespoon of finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 3 & 1/2 cups of cooked couscous, cooled to room temp

Whisk together the Herby Vinagrette:

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• grated zest and juice of half of a lemon
• 2 large basil leaves, chopped
• 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano leaves, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon of fresh flat leaf parsely, finely chopped
• 1/3 C of olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons of red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Poor the vinagrette over the other ingredients and voila! Summer in a bowl! Happy holiday weekend, bebes.