A new favorite

Last Friday was my 27th birthday. I enjoyed it with awesome friends and delicious food. I was also given this amazing cookbook. If you don't know Heidi by now, you should. Her blog is so inspiring, and I believe it's the first I ever read (and still read). I have her first book, but the second has quickly become a favorite. Delicious vegetarian meals, hearty enough for meat eaters and simple enough for anyone to make. She doesn't use many ingredients, but the ones she does are high quality, often local or available at farmers' markets.

She includes a recipe for roasted tomatoes that inspired this impromtu salad last night. I had a carton of cherry tomatoes that were begging to be baked in a sea of olive oil, sea salt and black pepper. I foresee making this recipe a lot as tomatoes start to take over the markets this summer.

I tossed the tomatoes (and their yummy juices) with black beans, avocado, shallot, parsley, celery, lemon and lime juice. Perfect for a day when the temperature almost reaches 90 degrees. I can't believe the heat and humidity of NC summers are almost here. This Sunday is the first day of May!