On days that I don't feel like cooking much (apart from grilling a few Zucchini and Yellow Squash slices) this is a fairly simple but lavish spread. All my boys love this for a change from our usual dinner and we kick off the weekend on a happy, fun and exciting note.
This feast consists of the following goodies. Best thing is there are no rules and there are no recipes so go all out and pair with whatever your heart desires.
FRUITS: Fresh Brown Figs and Sweet Babydoll Grapes (you can use regular, i found them fresh so they went well with my off-beat theme :)
MEATS: Prosciutto (dry cured ham), Sopressata, Dry Coppa (rubbed with black pepper and wine)
CHEESES: Bucheron (soft ripened goat cheese) and Brie (I love it with a little drizzle of fresh honey)
OLIVES: Stuffed Green and Pitted Black ones cured in oil.
VEGGIES: Grilled Zucchini (on a cast iron grill pan) and a medley of pickled veggies and banana peppers (carrots, bell peppers, cauliflower to name a few)
BREAD: A Crusty Roasted Garlic Bread
SALAD: Caprese (tomato, basil, mozarella medallions with a drizzle of honey balsamic vinaigrette)
Hope you enjoy this with your friends and family.
This is such a simple and refreshing salad that you can whip up in a couple of minutes. The tangy dressing adds so much oomph to this amazing dish.
RECIPE: Avocado-Mozzarella-Tomato Salad
(Adapted from Appetizers)
Ingredients
2 large Vine Ripe Tomatoes, sliced
5-6 Oz Mozzarella Fresca, grape size, avalable at grocery stores
2 Avocados, sliced
4 Tbsp Olive oil
1 Tbsp Aged White Wine Vinegar
1 tsp Mustard, coarse grained
Basil leaves, torn up
10-12 Olives, spiced with red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
Method
- Slice up the tomatoes and avocadoes into thick wedges with a sharp knife.
- Arrange them on a platter with the Mozzarella balls.
- Mix oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper and drizzle over the salad.
- Garnish with torn basil leaves and serve with bread.
Enjoy!!!
This is one of my most loved and popular creations. No matter how big a serving I make, it gets goddbled up FAST.... I have doubled-tripled-quardrupled it but I still run out :) You will be amazed at how humble and simple to prepare it really is.
RECIPE: Spicy Peanut Kachumber Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
1 Onion, coarse dice
1 Seedless Cucumber, diced
2 Avacados, diced
2 Tomatoes, diced
1 Green chilli, chopped
handful fresh coriander leaves, chopped
1 Cup Peanuts, roasted and lightly salted
Dressing:
2 Lemons, Juiced
salt to taste
1 tsp Cumin seeds, roasted and ground
1 tsp Corinader seeds, roasted and ground
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp Paprika
Method
- Chop the onions, cucumber, avacados, tomatoes, chillies and coriander.
- Now add the peanuts and toss it all up.
- Whip up all the dressing ingredients and drizzle over the salad. Toss it well and that is all it takes to make the best salad in the world :).
