Hello anyone who may be reading this! I am sorry to say that you are stuck with me this week. Grace, graciously, let me have fun with Co-op Cooks this week and I promptly forgot. So here is my very belated Co-op Cooks post. I decided to make a tasty salad. Now, I know some of you may be saying to yourselves “Why?? Why make something so banal and every day as a salad?” but hear me out. I decided to make a salad for a few reasons. First, I do not eat nearly enough leafy greens. Second, salad really isn’t all that boring! In fact, I would go so far as to say that salads are the tabula rasa of the culinary world. Your only limits when making a salad are your own imagination (corny as that saying may be). Lastly, they can be quick and easy. I cannot adequately express how often I come home and dread the idea of figuring out what to make for dinner, but dread not all my fellow procrastinators, salad is here to save the day! The recipe I made came courtesy of the Potsdam Food Co-op and the wonderful selection of recipes located next to the register (curated by our very own amazing Laurie). This Autumn Salad with Spicy Chickpeas is fun, filling, and quick, with just enough autumnal flare to get you excited for the changing seasons.

Overall, I really enjoyed this recipe! The smell from the roasting sweet potatoes and chickpeas filled my little apartment with a deliciously warm scent and I had fun tinkering with the recipe. I substituted roasted pumpkin seeds and French feta (you can find this delicious cheese in the Co-op deli cooler), and I added cinnamon to my spice mixture. I would suggest throwing in other spices and herbs if you would like to highlight other fall flavors, maybe even a hint of nutmeg or thyme? When I make this salad again, I will add a touch of maple syrup to the dressing since maple is one of my favorite seasonal flavors. A smoked cheese, like our September Cheese of the Month would also be a great substitution! And just in case you were wondering, no, I did not burn down my kitchen (this time)!