“Once a year go someplace you have never been before.” – Dalai Lama
NOTE: I spend my Wednesdays Unplugged from appointments. It’s my day to stay home, enjoy cooking and welcome our kids and grandkids for dinner in the evening. We end our meal with quotes from the Norwegian ‘Quote Cup’ passed on to me from my grandmother. I share a quote and a recipe here each week, along with an update and photos of what has been going on in our lives. I love trying new recipes…and love getting recipes you would like to share!
We saw one of the early performances of Come From Away at the Guthrie… outstanding all around, and more fun because our neighbor was onstage playing his mandolin! Then our granddaughter flew away to Japan. She has gone someplace she has never been before and we are loving the daily deck of photos she sends… an awesome trip for her and an awesome opportunity for us to see Japan through her eyes!
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Caprese is one of my favorite salads, and I thought a caprese pasta salad sounded wonderful. I loved all the ingredients… although it was ok I was not crazy about this dressing from www.asouthernsoul.com, but I am sure many people love it… adjust to your taste!
CAPRESE PASTA SALAD
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Caprese Pasta Salad
- 1/2 pound dried pasta (farfalle or other small pasta)
- 8 ounces mozzarella pearls
- 2 cups grape tomatoes sliced in half
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves thinly sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
To a small bowl or jar with a lid, add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Whisk or shake until all ingredients are incorporated. Set aside.
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
To a large bowl add cooked pasta, tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and basil. Drizzle with vinaigrette dressing and toss. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately.
