Salads

2 lbs. White sushi rice
12-16 oz. bottle rice vinegar (unseasoned)
5 tsp. salt
¼ cup honey

Wash rice very well in cold water, till the water runs clear. (Optional: soak for 30 minutes and drain.)
Put rice into a ~4-quart saucepan with tight-fitting lid. Add water to one thumb-knuckle above the rice. Cover and bring to a boil.
Immediately turn the heat down to simmer for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the rice vinegar, salt, and honey; mix well.

This can feed about 100 people, if you serve a few other dishes as well (works well with a pasta salad and a veggie salad).

16 oz. (1 bottle) balsamic vinegar
2 heads of garlic, cloves peeled and minced or pressed
Salt and Pepper to taste

3 bunches of broccoli
2 red peppers, seeded and diced
1 medium green cabbage, chopped finely and blanched
1 medium red cabbage, chopped finely and blanched
2 large bunches parsley, minced
1 large bunch basil, minced

1 quarts dry French lentils, soaked or sprouted, and then cooked till just tender

1 large or 2 medium shallots, thinly sliced
3 T red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 tsp. salt, or to taste
2 15-oz. cans chickpeas, drained
1 large carrot, peeled and coarsely grated
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly milled black pepper

In a large bowl, combine the shallots, vinegar, garlic, and salt.
Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the shallots and garlic to mellow.

In a medium saucepan over high heat, bring 2 quarts of water to a
boil. Add the chickpeas and blanch for 1 to 2 minutes. Drain.

1 pound small shell or spiral pasta
(or use rice pasta)
1/4-3/4 cup olive oil

4-8 oz. feta cheese

1 can black olives

2 medium diced tomatoes, OR 1 pint cherry tomatoes, OR 2 diced red peppers

1/2 small red onion, sliced thinly

3 small cucumbers, diced

1 1/2 tbsp oregano

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook pasta until just before it's al dente; drain well. Coat pasta gently with olive oil, then add remaining ingredients except for the feta, and mix gently but thoroughly. Mix in the feta.

1 large butternut squash, seeded (no need to peel), cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices.

Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper, and roast in a single layer in a baking pan until tender.

When the squash is done, arrange on a serving platter. Top with
-half of a thinly sliced onion
-a few cloves thinly sliced garlic
-a generous sprinkling of dried oregano
-fresh minced parsley and mint (can use dried too).

Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle with
-olive oil
--cider vinegar