Quick Marinated Cherry Tomato Salad, S'mores and Right With The World

I'm happy to report that all is right with the world again...after a month in our new home, we finally have our new regulation size volleyball net up in the backyard, tiki torches are thoughtfully placed throughout with their oil and our water feature fountain is back up and running after being in storage for three years, after our California move.  Yes, life in our back yard is finally getting back into a groove again.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup S'mores by the light of
our tiki torches on the patio and life doesn't get any better.

Great, go to, quick fix, weeknight dinner.

Quick Marinated Cherry Tomato Salad
Courtesy of Pioneer Woman

1 pint red grape tomatoes
1 pint yellow grape tomatoes
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
1 heaping tablespoon jarred pesto
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 clove garlic, pressed
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
1 head iceburg lettuce, cut into chunks (I used my leftover romaine lettuce on hand instead)

** I also added (1) avocado diced and our left over grilled tri-tip steak, sliced in bite size pieces and topped it off with crumbled feta cheese.  This would be really great with left over grilled chicken also.  I'm sure I'll be trying that version out really soon.

Halve the tomatoes and add them to a large zipper bag with the sliced red onion. Add the olive oil, balsamic, parsley, pesto, sugar, garlic and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Seal the bag, getting all the air out. Place into the fridge until ready for dinner.

Place the iceberg lettuce (or lettuce of your choosing)  in a large bowl and pour on the tomatoes. Toss and serve! (The dressing from the tomatoes becomes the salad dressing.)

My daughter's monkey even approved of the salad.

After dinner, all was right with Angus also, he equally
loves my daughter's monkey.