Vegetable Nicoise Salad

• FOR THE VINAIGRETTE:
• 1/3 cups Olive Oil
• 1/4 cups Lemon Juice
• 2 teaspoons Minced Fresh Oregano
• 2 teaspoons Minced Fresh Thyme
• 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1/2 teaspoons Freshly Ground Pepper
• 1/4 teaspoons Salt
• FOR THE SALAD:
• 1 pound Small Red Potatoes, Halved
• 1 pound Fresh Asparagus, Tough End Removed
• 1/2 pounds Fresh Green Beans, Stems Removed
• 1 can 16 Oz. Can, Kidney Beans, Drained And Rinsed
• 1 whole Large Shallot, Thinly Sliced
• 1 can (13-14 Oz Can) Artichoke Hearts, Quartered, Drained
• 1 head Romaine Lettuce, Washed And Torn Into Large Pieces
• 6 whole Hard Boiled Eggs, Cooled, Peeled And Quartered
• 1/2 cups Kalamata Olives, Pitted

1. Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
2. Cook the red potatoes in a pot of boiling water until tender, about 15 minutes depending on size. Drain them, put them into a bowl and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the vinaigrette. Toss and set aside.
3. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in the same saucepan used to cook the red potatoes. Add the asparagus and cook for 4 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove the asparagus with tongs and immediately dunk the spears in ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain them and place on a paper towel lined plate to dry.
4. Bring the same water to a boil again and add the green beans. Cook for 3-4 minutes until crisp-tender. Use tongs to remove the green beans from the boiling water and dunk them in ice water. Drain and add them to the paper towel lined plate to dry with the asparagus
5. In a small bowl combine the drained and rinsed kidney beans and the sliced shallot. Add 1 tablespoon of the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Set aside.
6. In another small bowl toss the artichoke hearts with 1 tablespoon of the vinaigrette. Set aside.
7. Toss the asparagus and green beans in 2 tablespoons vinaigrette.
8. Put the lettuce leaves into a bowl and toss with 2 tablespoons vinaigrette then arrange them on a platter or individual serving dishes. Arrange the vegetables, kidney beans, eggs, artichoke hearts and olives over the lettuce. Serve with any left over vinaigrette and enjoy!
9. (Recipe adapted from a recipe in the April/May 2012 Taste of Home Magazine.)

vinaigrette, olive oil, ubc, fresh oregano, fresh thyme, dijon mustard, clove garlic, freshly ground pepper, ubc, salad, red potatoes, fresh asparagus, fresh green beans, kidney beans, shallot, hearts, head romaine lettuce, eggs, kalamata olives

Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/salads/vegetable-nicoise-salad/ (may not work)