Today’s Recipe:
Tuna Niçoise Salad with Olivia Newton-John’s Favorite Dressing

Cookbook: Livwise: Easy Recipes for a Healthy, Happy Life, by Olivia Newton-John

Confession: Thinking about Olivia Newton-John got me singing to myself “Summer lovin’, had me a blast, Summer lovin’, happened so fast…” and remembering the summer of 1978. If you’re not singing that song right now too, then you must have missed those fun times back in the seventies — and a truly likable movie musical.

A breast cancer “thriver” for twenty years, Olivia Newton-John attributes her health and well-being to daily exercise and a simple diet based mostly on salads, vegetables, fish, chicken, and some whole grains. She firmly believes that what we eat is imperative to staying healthy and well-balanced, and she shares this philosophy in her first cookbook, Livwise. Her royalties from the sale of the cookbook will go to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in  Melbourne, Australia.

This recipe fits her simple-food philosophy. Tuna Niçoise Salad is one of my favorites, perhaps because I don’t feel like I’m eating a “salad.” It’s a full meal, with protein (tuna, eggs) and vegetables (green beans, potatoes, greens, tomatoes). I especially like the addition of Bragg Liquid Aminos in Olivia’s version.

Want some light summer fun? Make this salad, rent the movie Grease, and sing along while you eat healthy. You’ll probably want to dance too. Summer lovin’…

Find the recipe for Tuna Niçoise Salad with Olivia’s Favorite Dressing here: Globe Pequot Press

More on the Cookbook: Livwise: Easy Recipes for a Healthy, Happy Life, by Olivia Newton-John (Globe Pequot Press)