Pasta Salad

I love pasta! The good thing about pasta salad you can throw anything you have on hand in it and call it good. This is definitely nothing fancy, but satisfying.

Throw it together Pasta Salad

1 box of Pasta of choice
1 bottle of Italian dressing of choice
1/4 lb of Large Pepperoni, stacked and cut into quarters
1 can of medium Black Olives, drained
1 can of Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed
2 large tomatoes, cut into quarters, seeded and diced
2 tbsp of Poppy Seeds
1 cup of Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 tsp Cracked Black Pepper
8 Basil leaves, cut into ribbons for garnish and flavor

1. Prepare pasta according to directions, drain and rinse with cold water and drain real good.

2. In large bowl, add pasta, dressing, red pepper flakes, black pepper, poppy seeds, give it a good stir until fully mingled together. Then add the last cast members of Olives, Beans, Tomatoes, give it another stir. Mmmm..starting to look good. Finish off with Parmesan Cheese and Basil leaves. Give it a good blend and let set for a good hour. You can eat it right away, but the flavors mingle more and explode into happiness the longer they sit together.

I like making this with Thin Spaghetti and adding a little tomato paste, green peppers, and anything that makes your hair blow. Mmmmm..enjoy! I will for lunch Manana!

Turkey Patties with Lemon Tomato Salad

This is a dish I came up with items I had on hand and experimented at the last minute. It was flavorful and fresh and very satisfying. I would attempt to make it again, with perhaps a turkey meatloaf instead and mashed sweet potatoes. Mmmmm!

Turkey Patties with Lemon Tomato Salad

1 Lemon (Peeled and sectioned)
Bunch of Cilantro
1 Large Greenish Pink Tomato (Quartered without cutting all the way, then sliced)
1/4 of a Large Red Onion (Sliced)

Dressing:
2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1 Garlic Clove
Few chunks of Mango
Kosher Salt
Cracked Black Pepper

Turkey Patties:
1 lb of Ground Turkey
1/2 c Diced Red Onion
1 Whole Egg
3 Garlic Cloves (Minced)
1/8 tsp Ground Thyme
1/4 tsp Paprika
1/4 c Bread Crumbs
1/2 Parmesan Cheese
Kosher Salt
Cracked Black Pepper

1. Peel the lemons and section out the wedges of lemon pulp. Add to a bowl.

2. Chop up the cilantro. Slice up the tomato and red onions and add with the lemon sections.

3. For the dressing....
Add all ingredients to a food processor and process until garlic is minced. Toss in with the sliced vegetables in the bowl.

4. Turkey Patties.....

Combine ground Turkey, spices, egg, bread crumbs, onion, minced garlic and last but the big flavor kicker..PARMESAN CHEESE!!! I have to say, Parmesan cheese is one ingredient I can't do without. It will add any deprived dish with that extra sparkle of taste....well just about any dish.

Now, I want you to take your rings off because we are going to get our hands dirty. Dig right in and mix everything together. Pretend its Playdough. Make sure all ingredients are mixed in well and start shaping them little bundles of heaven up.

5. Heat up a pan and add a little bit of Olive Oil. Add the Turkey patties and cook about 4-5 min on each side, depending on thickness. Juices should run clear and outside lightly browned.

Dish up on a plate with the salad. Was good as is or you can add to a bun with the works. Perhaps some baked sweet potato fries. There I ago with the sweet potato. I may just have to try sweet potato with this either in a turkey loaf or patty.

Panzanella

Panzanella is an Italian dish used through out Italy. It's basically a Bread Salad with raw vegetables, Italian herbs, Olive Oil, Vinegar, Salt Pepper and just tossed together. One can alter it and make many variations. Here is one of mine.

Panzanella

1 Crusty loaf of Bread (chopped into big chunks)
1 Pint Grape Tomatoes, halved
1 Large English Cucumber, Quartered and sliced in big chunks
1/2 of a Large Red Onion, cut into bite size chunks
2 Medium Yellow Bell Peppers, cut into bite size chunks
1 Medium Red Bell Pepper, cut into bite size chunks
1 small pkg. Crumbled Feta Cheese

~I pretty much cut all veggies into same size and make the bread chunks a bit bigger~

Dressing:

1/4 c Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 Tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar
4 Basil Leaves
1 Clove of Garlic
Salt & Pepper
Lime Zest with juice of 1/2 of a lime
1 Splenda packet or 1 tsp of Sugar

*Add everything to a food processor and give a spin until everything is thoroughly blended. If used later you will have to shake it up or stir before serving.

1. I add all chopped veggies to a large bowl. Toss together.
2. Last I add the cheese and bread and when ready to serve I add dressing to veggies or have people individually add it on there own.

This salad is nice and refreshing and a great hit in the summer time. I like to add Black Olive, perhaps fresh Mozzarella with ribbons of Basil. You could grill Chicken and have it be a great side dish to it. Perhaps toss some Orzo Pasta to the Salad and it makes a complete meal.