Showing posts with label Summer Salads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summer Salads. Show all posts

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Cool, healthy bowls for hot, humid days -


 


Who wants to turn their oven on these hot evenings?  
Not me that's for certain.  
I would prefer an easy to make, and eat, salad in a chilled bowl 
along with a glass of beautiful pale pink rosé.

Above, just a Caesar salad with additions - farm fresh boiled eggs, potatoes, 
radishes, finely chopped scallions. Homemade croutons and an extra
 crunchy slice of grilled bread rubbed with olive oil and garlic. 
I toss my croutons and sliced bread together in the same skillet for ease.

Tip: If you shop at LIDI try the cheese rolls from the bakery.
Just one will serve two and give you enough croutons, plus two slices,
and they are delicious. They are also fabulous for panini 
sandwiches, light and crispy - cheese and tomato with 
some fresh torn basil is my favorite.

Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

Oven roast your vegetables, chopped in 1" cubes, for about 30 minutes on a
 cooler day - preferably early morning when heat from the oven is tolerable.
I love eggplant, red and orange bell peppers, zucchini and red onion.
Boil and drain your pasta at the same time then by evening when constructing
your bowl, everything will be cool, no heat required. 
If you would like to have the complete recipe go here to Sprouted Kitchen
where Sara has adapted Ina Garten's original Roasted Vegetable Orzo recipe - and
 of course I then tweaked my own version. You will love what Sara comes up with in
 her kitchen, and if you don't already follow her, you should!

Happy days in a cooler Summer kitchen. . . . . . yes, today is
the first day of Summer!


Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Waste not, want not…Italian style


The name of this delicious, easy to make Summer salad is panzanella. 
Said with an Italian accent it sounds almost romantic - go ahead say it in your best 
Italian accent, it's adorable.
 When you see it being made, the bowl of wet bread couldn't be more unappetizing!
Panzanella actually comes from the word pantanella meaning 'little swap'.
In the picturesque hills of Tuscany, leftover bread is used in many dishes such as 
bruschetta, crostini and the wonderful ribollita soup I enjoy making in Winter.
Panzanella salad is one of the mainstays of the long and languid Summer 
luncheon, or supper under the pergola in the flower-filled garden.
The quality of the ingredients are what make it delicious. 


Panzanella (Tomato & Bread Salad)

1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
8 oz stale white Italian bread cut into 2" chunks
About 6 cups of cold water
3-4 medium size ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 small red onion sliced thinly
1 cup fresh basil leaves torn into bite-sized pieces

Cook to Cook:  Use only sturdy crumbed white Italian bread such as 
ciabatta or foccacia - not fine crumb wheat or whole grain style breads.
You can remove the crusts - I leave mine on.

Pour vinegar into a small bowl and whisk in the oil
Place bread in a large bowl, add water to cover, and soak for 5 mins. 
Drain well in a colander then squeeze bread to remove as much water as possible
Coarsely crumble bread back into large bowl
Add tomatoes, onion and basil, toss gently with enough vinaigrette to coat 
Add salt and pepper to taste

Salad can be made ahead - cover and refrigerate. Let 
stand at least one hour at room temperature before serving.
Leftover panzanella is good for another day or so.

 

The finished salad - we enjoyed it last evening with penne Gorgonzola - leftovers 
will make a quick, tasty lunch today.