Michelle’s Incredible Lentil Salad
Do all of you know Michelle at Thursday Night Smackdown? If you don’t? Get over to her site right now! I’ll wait.
No, seriously, I will.
Isn’t she great? She has the best sense of humor, and her blog is filled with delectable goodies ranging from appies to salads to mains to desserts. I discovered TNS a few months ago, and it has quickly become one of my “first reads” in the morning. Thursdays are “Smackdown” days. Michelle chooses a recipe from one her many cookbooks and makes it. Mondays are “Cheap Assed” days, where she uses pantry staples and inexpensive ingredients to make incredible meals for *under* *$5!* per serving. With today’s economy, that is one hell of a bonus! You may remember her Extreme Rotini and Cheese, that I am totally claiming as my own from now on (sorry Michelle! lol) As of late, she has been making meal after incredible meal…all spot on with my tastes. It’s as if she were trying to seduce me with her cooking. You’re not, are you, Michelle? lmfao I’m just teasing. It’s just that…I dunno…awesome food…swearing…getting my funny on…well, it’s just the best, that’s all. It’s like one stop blog shopping. Treats! Snark! Giggle! See what I mean?
So anyway…the other day she made this incredible looking lentil salad. Lentils! Salad! I’m so there. Not only is this salad good, it’s EXCELLENT. I even cheated. I didn’t cook my lentils with the oh so fun to make cloved onion. I used a jar of lentils. That I had in the pantry. Then added the ever so smallest pinch of ground cloves to the salad. Nobody noticed that I hadn’t spent that extra hour plus cooling time. See that? And? AND I was frugal, because I used pantry goods, as well as basil from my leetle basil plant on the patio. I also subbed Feta cheese, because that’s what I had. That salad was free! I had everything in the house. I bet you do, too.
Now, there are a couple of events that I want to participate in. My very good friend Shaye, at Smarter than Pancakes had a birthday recently, and would like us to bring something to her Birthday Picnic!
I’m bringing this salad. Not only because it’s freaking fabulous, but because it’s a dish that lends itself *perfectly* to an afternoon outside with friends. So, Happy Birthday, Shaye! MUAC!
Grace at A Southern Grace is also hosting an event, called Beat the Heat!
that I’d like to participate in, seeing as it’s hot as Hades round here, and we’re all looking for refreshing dishes to combat the scorching heat of summer. The catch? No heating up the kitchen! Microwaves and ice-cream makers are allowed, but not the stove or oven or any other heat emitting appliance. Grace, check this salad OUT man. Seriously. If this doesn’t beat the heat, maybe we’ll have to have a beer with it or something. 
lol
wow that salad looks awesome. it’s hot here too, beer sounds good.
Comment by furiousball — July 24, 2008 @ 2:17 pm
I don’t have many of the ingredients on hand (well, it’s a different world out here, haha), and I’m kind of sad!
I want a plateful now! It looks beautiful, Nikki 
Comment by manggy — July 24, 2008 @ 2:25 pm
thanks for the love!
seriously, people, this is a good salad. i can’t allow credit to go to me, though; this was a thursday night smackdown and came from susan spicer’s excellent “crescent city cooking.” highly recommended purchase.
Comment by michelle @ TNS\ — July 24, 2008 @ 2:48 pm
Thanks for the comment, nice to meet you too.
Your pics are great. The mussels and lentils and everything look awesome.
Comment by Adam — July 24, 2008 @ 3:09 pm
Nikki, I really love lentils!!!! soo I will try this recipe because normally I eat warm with cheese, but love this, xxxxxxmuac!!!!!! Gloria
Comment by Gloria — July 24, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
Wow, fangirl much?
Michelle is great, it’s true. A lentil salad is a perfect summer dinner!
Comment by Heather — July 24, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
I agree that the salad is incredible. Now I need to get some lentils and I’ll be set to try it. Yummy.
Comment by Ben — July 24, 2008 @ 4:24 pm
Wonderful-looking salad. I love the use of lentils in this. Lentils break out from their typecasted winter selves — yey!
Comment by [eatingclub] vancouver || js — July 24, 2008 @ 6:54 pm
Oh why do you make me laugh so hard…leetle basil plant…he-he.
Comment by noble pig — July 25, 2008 @ 2:56 am
I love ‘Smackdown’! She is hilarious. Great looking lentil salad!
Comment by Angela — July 25, 2008 @ 2:58 am
you seem quite adamant about the deliciousness of this salad, leaving me no choice but to try it myself. it sure looks great–thanks for sending it my way!
Comment by grace — July 25, 2008 @ 9:26 am
Thanks Furious! One beer, comin’ right up!
Thank you, Mark! Sorry about the ingredient shortage…I can relate…many times I can’t make stuff because it’s simply not available in my area.
Hi Michelle! Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks Adam!
Gloria, Sí! Pruébala…te encantará.
Hi Heather….I was kind of gushing, wasn’t I? lol
Hi Ben! Thanks! I hope you do try it, it’s sooo good!
Yes, isn’t it great, [eating club]? I think I should have doubled it…I miss it already. *pout* lol
Cathy, I make you laugh? WOOHOO! That totally makes my day. XOXO
Thank you, Angela! Hey I tried to comment on your Croque Madame post—Delicious!!! It won’t let me though, since I don’t have a blogger account.
Open source doesn’t work for me either…I have to enter in my data in order to post comments on blogger blogs. *pout*
Yes, Grace…I adamantly insist you try it. lol Thanks for hosting the Beat the Heat event!
Comment by nikki — July 25, 2008 @ 12:48 pm
Nikki, this looks fantastic! I love lentils, and everything else in there, so it’s gotta be good!
Comment by Elle — July 25, 2008 @ 1:21 pm
Nice lentil salad and I love the online picnic idea!
Comment by Hillary — July 25, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
Thank you, Elle! MUAC!
Thank you, Hillary, isn’t it fun?
Comment by nikki — July 26, 2008 @ 9:02 am
I just found your fabulous blog!
adding to my favorite bloggers.
Can’t wait to make your paella on the grill. Great photos, my mouth is watering!
Also, will try your lentil salad, right up my alley.
Thanks!
stacey snacks
Comment by Stacey Snacks — July 26, 2008 @ 7:47 pm
Pantry food! yay! and it looks so yummy! I was looking for a veggie entree for this weekend - thanks!!!
Comment by Anjanette — July 26, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
Yum!! This is a great looking lentil salad! Even better with the feta cheese. I’m making this next week!
Comment by zenchef — July 26, 2008 @ 11:46 pm
That lentil salad looks good! I have been meaning to try lentils.
Comment by Kevin — July 27, 2008 @ 2:57 am
I must be living under a rock because I have not met Michelle. Love her salad though and will do my best to attend her picnic:D
Comment by B — July 27, 2008 @ 11:19 pm
i didn’t see you wait!! LOL.
nice ode to Michelle.
Comment by Bren@Flanboyant Eats — July 28, 2008 @ 3:03 am
That is an incredible looking salad. Lentils does not go down with my family, but then there is more for me. Thanks for the update on the events.
Comment by nina — July 28, 2008 @ 10:29 am
Hi Stacey, I’m so glad you like the site!
Hi Anjanette, isn’t it great? Gotta love free.
Let me know how it turns out for ya, Zen!
Kevin, omg what are you waiting for? They are the best!
Hi Val! Glad you like the salad!
Bren, I was totally waiting. Seriously!
Nina, Yes! More for us lentil lovers then. hehe
Comment by nikki — July 28, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
This looks so delicious! I adore lentils. And thanks for the info on TNS. I always need a new great blog to add to my reader
Comment by elly — July 29, 2008 @ 1:41 am