When dinnertime rolls around, I no longer simply browse through my staggering arsenal of cookbooks. I love the printed word, but it can be an overwhelming task to sort through decades of great ideas, often picture-free. While I’ll always have one hand thumbing through my cookbooks for old favorites, I now have my other clicking away on my mouse. It’s not Facebook or Twitter that has garnered my attention – they don’t have any great way to share recipe ideas (although, admittedly, I can fritter away hours on both of those sites).
My newest obsession is with Pinterest, a website that can organize favorite recipes, quotes, DIY projects and more (if you can imagine it, you can Pin it), into virtual pinboards – never to be lost in a murky shortcuts folder again. Turns out, I’m not alone. Pinterest has been heralded as the fastest growing social media website in history by news outlets everywhere – comScore backed this up when they reported Pinterest is “the fastest independent site to hit 10 million monthly uniques in the U.S.”
What does this mean to me and my rush to get dinner on the table, preferably in style? I now have access to well over 10 million potential sources of inspiration, many of them food-related. The most remarkable shift in my habits is that I now no longer search Google for recipe ideas – I search Pinterest. When I type “Greek Salad” into the search box, I’m guaranteed to find the best, most beautiful and most successful recipes around. This is because each search result has been hand curated by users who have either tried the recipe, trust the source, or love the presentation – all of which help me at dinnertime. As an added bonus, since using Pinterest, the “pinnable” quality of my dinner table has drastically improved (making it so pretty, at times, I almost feel as though I’m channeling Martha Stewart, which is never a bad thing).
No longer is making a delicious Greek Salad my only option – I can now scroll through the prettiest salads on Pinterest to see how to dress up my salad in all her finery.
You can follow my pins at Pinterest.com/GlobalTable, where I hand curate the best in international food, travel, kids, and DIY projects. And, if you like this recipe, be sure to log onto www.okmag.com and Pin it!
Sasha Martin is cooking one meal for every country in the world. Her picky husband and baby girl are along for the ride. Join the adventure for recipes, reviews and more at www.globaltableadventure.com.
Authentic Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki)
Weather is heating up in Oklahoma, so try this salad to keep your kitchen cool and your guests refreshed. This Greek Salad doesn’t include lettuce, but you won’t miss it. In fact, leaving the lettuce out allows you to focus on the beautiful flavor of garden fresh veggies, without any leafy distractions – a cornucopia of fresh, crunchy goodness.
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1 green pepper, sliced thinly
1/2 English cucumber sliced thinly, or 1 regular cucumber peeled and then sliced
1/2 red onion, sliced thinly
3.5 oz. feta, cubed
1/2 c. kalamata olives
For the dressing (all items are to taste):
Red wine vinegar
Olive oil
Oregano
Salt, optional
Pepper
Add all ingredients to large salad bowl. Drizzle with red wine vinegar, olive oil, and sprinkle with oregano and pepper. Salt is optional – you won’t need it if you use enough feta. Toss to combine. If you have time, let the flavors mingle for about 30 minutes. Enjoy with pita bread and a smile!
