It is the perfect weather for a day at the beach with family and friends. Or an evening getaway for a romantic picnic. Here are a few recipes to help you make it happen…
Easy Antipasto Salad…
Yield:4 to 6 servings
Ingredients –
Red Wine Vinaigrette:
1 bunch fresh basil, stemmed and leaves chopped (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 clove garlic
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Antipasto Salad:
1 pound fusilli pasta
1/2 cup hard salami, cut into strips (about 3 ounces)
1/2 cup smoked turkey, cut into strips (about 3 ounces)
1/4 cup provolone cheese, cut into strips
1/4 cup grated Asiago cheese
2 tablespoons green olives, halved and pitted
2 tablespoons roasted red peppers, cut into strips
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Vinaigrette: In a blender, add the basil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, salt and pepper. Blend until the herbs are finely chopped. With the machine running, drizzle in the olive oil until the dressing is smooth.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.
In a large bowl, toss together the cooked pasta with the remaining salad ingredients. Drizzle with dressing and toss to coat. Serve.
Simple Sangria…
Ingredients:
Red Table Wine
Orange Passion Mango World Market Italian Soda
Bag of Mixed Frozen Fruit (mine had strawberries, mango & peaches)
Directions:
Have a simple sangria ready to go in 2 minutes flat. Pour in red wine, then follow with Italian Soda; the ratio is 1:1. Open your bag of frozen fruit and pour in as much as you want. The fruit will not only chill the sangria, but as it melts the flavors will even enhance it.
Notes:
If you’re not the biggest fan of mushy fruit, then you may want to sip this sangria with a straw. While sure I’d prefer fresh fruit in my sangria, this is a super simple alternative you can whip up just about any time. Perfect for when unexpected company drops by.
And remember…please drink responsibly!
Mike Petruccelli's Bus Stop 