A Visit To Tallinn And Spring Salad With Herbs

Last week, we took our West Australian visitors for a ferry trip across the Gulf of Finland, to visit the old town at Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The boat trip takes only 1 ½ hours and it is a popular day or weekend trip from Helsinki. The old town is a Unesco world cultural heritage site. It is beautifully preserved with a large section of the old town wall and towers still standing.

Apart from all the beautiful old buildings and cobbled streets, there are interesting and imaginative decorations and signboards everywhere you look.

We loved this gutter in the shape of a boot with 5 little toe holes where the water pours through.

... as well as this lamp above the door of the Maritime Museum.

This iron man on a doorway delighted some young tourists.

And some of the 'decorations' were quite modern and just for fun.

Every cobbled street and alley had a lovely visual surprise in store.

My Aussie visitors brought the warm and sunny weather with them and I decided to make this salad for lunch.

Artichoke, Olive and Chickpea Salad with Fresh Herbs

A Small jar of pitted Kalamata Olives in Olive Oil

A Small can or carton of Chickpeas

A Small jar/can of Artichoke hearts

1 - 2 Tblsps each fresh herbs, according to your taste:

Parsley

Rosemary

Basil

Sage

A Few Coriander leaves

Some Mint leaves

- whichever ones you prefer but get at least 4 types

-  Drain the Olives, Chickpeas and Artichoke hearts.

-  Halve the olives and mix olives, chickpeas & artichokes(if the artichokes are big halve or cut into quarters)

-  Finely chop the herbs in quantities you prefer and mix through.

Make a salad dressing with Vinegar, Oil, Lemon Juice, Salt and lots of coarsely ground Black Pepper and toss.

Variation: Add washed, chopped English Spinach.

Serve on its own with good rye or sourdough bread) or with savoury muffins or cold meat as lunch.