Nina’s Favorite Salad

Green Bean & Tomato salad submitted by owner of Mill Cove baking Company Nina Murray

Sometimes all your chèvre needs is...the perfect cracker! Lucky for you it exists right here in Maine!

Nina Murray started Mill Cove Baking Company in 2017 with the goal of using Maine-made ingredients to create uniquely delicious crackers for markets in Maine and beyond. The business is named after her mom's farm in Harpswell where she grew up; "Mill Cove" being the name of the nearby inlet where grains were once milled into flour and where a mill stone still stands today. The business is focused on using Maine grains and Maine dairy as primary ingredients in their crackers, as these are two readily available and high-quality products of Maine's agricultural efforts. Now with three unique cracker varieties and a fourth on the way, Mill Cove products are sold throughout New England at specialty food stores, farm stands, groceries, restaurants, breweries, and more. Based out of Portland and 100% female-owned and operated, Mill Cove is proud to be a part of the vibrant and supportive Maine food producer scene.

Learn More at: www.millcovebakingco.com

INGREDIENTS

•1 quart fresh green beans, blanched

•1 pint fresh cherry tomatoes, halved

•1 small bunch fresh basil, roughly cut

•4 ounces goat cheese (herbed or plain), crumbled

•1 clove garlic, finely diced

•2 teaspoon dijon mustard

•1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

•3 tablespoons olive oil

•pinch of salt

•pinch of freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

• Blanch the green beans: Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Trim the stems off of the green beans and add them to water, once it is boiling. Boil the green beans for 5 minutes. Immediately remove from heat, strain the green beans, and run them under cold water until green beans are completely cooled.

• Wash cherry tomatoes and cut in half. Roughly chop the basil.

• Crumble goat cheese into small chunks.

• To prepare the dressing, whisk the following ingredients together in a small bowl until combined: finely diced garlic clove, dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper.

• Assemble prepared green beans, tomatoes, basil and chèvre in a large bowl.

• Feeling wild? When you are ready to serve, crumble a few Mill Cove Crackers on top for a little crunch!