feta-stuffed mini pepper salad

Ingredients

For the vinaigrette:

1/2 c. loose packed fresh mint leaves, rough chopped

1/2 c. loose packed Italian parsley leaves, rough chopped

1 clove of garlic, smashed with the side of a chef's knife and rough chopped

3 T. fresh squeezed lemon juice

1 T. red wine vinegar

1 c. extra virgin olive oil

salt & pepper to taste

1 lb. of mini sweet peppers (from a 2 lb. bag)

1/3 lb. block-style feta cheese cut in to approximate 3/4-inch cubes

5 oz. pkg of baby arugula

diced English cucumber

chopped kalamata olives

Preparation

Prepare the vinaigrette: In a blender jar, combine mint, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, and a generous pinch of salt. With the blender running, slowly add in the olive oil. Pour the vinaigrette into a small bowl and season to taste with salt & pepper.

Trim the tops from the peppers, place in a bowl and toss with about 1/2 c. of the vinaigrette (make sure the dressing makes it inside the peppers as well as the outside). Stuff the peppers with the feta cheese, place in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a couple of hours. Preheat oven to 475 degrees f. Bake until the peppers are tender and the skins are slightly blistered. Let the peppers sit for at least 10 minutes before placing them on the salad.

In a large bowl, toss the arugula, cucumbers and kalamata olives with some of the mint vinaigrette. Place a handful of salad on individual serving plates and top with the slightly cooled peppers.