Simple Summer Salad

There's nothing like a cold summer salad on a hot night, a salad that tastes good and is easy to make. This recipe fills the bill nicely and goes with just about everything. And it doesn't contain mayonnaise so no need to worry about it spoiling in warm weather. We served it with grilled hot Italian sausages today, but it's also great with chicken, steak or barbecued ribs. You can toss it together in a few minutes and then refrigerate before serving.

GARBANZO BEAN & TOMATO SALAD
Ingredients:
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed & drained
1 can black olives, drained (I prefer to use pitted Kalamata olives but I don't always have them on hand)
1 medium onion, sliced thin 
1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
4 oz. Feta cheese
3 Tbsp. olive oil
3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
Directions: 
Mix olive oil and vinegar, add oregano, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Combine garbanzo beans, olives, onion, tomatoes and feta.  Shake dressing and pour over vegetables. Toss and refrigerate before serving. 

NOTE: The yellow onion has a very mild flavor, while the white is a bit more zesty and is used in many Latin American dishes. The red onion adds color and zest to any salad or entrée.