Italian salad dressing

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  A typical Italian salad in our house for the holidays.

Add in’s are:

Pepperincini

Black olives 

Thin sliced sweet onion 

Fresh grated Parmigian , Asiago or Romano cheese

Roma tomatoes sliced in wedges

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• I make my own Italian salad dressing and find this one works well too.
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• 3/4 cup virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1/4 cup white wine or red wine vinegar
• ▢ 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
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• ▢ 1 tablespoon dried parsley lol
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder or 2 teaspoons of chopped scallions
• ▢ 3/4 teaspoon dried basil
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• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• ***Oregano pinch if you like it.
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sugar
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• For the dressing:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a jar or measuring cup and shake or whisk vigorously to combine. 
  
  
  Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Italian spaghetti salad

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• I made this spaghetti salad today and it’s delicious.
• I adapted it to our liking.  Eliminating the oregano, green pepper and but using the homemade dressing recipe.

Enjoy!

Delicious pasta salad using spaghetti.  A nice recipe to update a traditional pasta salad.

• ENJOY!
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• 1 pound spaghetti pasta broken in half
• ▢ 1 cup quartered and sliced cucumber
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped celery 
• ▢ 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• Oregano (optional)
• ***Note:  oregano can be overpowering so watch amount.  Start with 1/4 teaspoon.  You can always add more.
• ▢ 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper **optional
• ▢ 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• ▢ 1/3 cup finely diced green onion(scallions)
• ▢ 2/3 cup sliced black olives
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• ▢ 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• ▢ 1 1/4 cups homemade or you can use store bought dressing.

FOR THE DRESSING

• ▢ 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• ▢ 1/4 cup white wine or red wine vinegar
• ▢ 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
• I teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon minced red pepper

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• tablespoon dried parsl
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley 
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• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sugar
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

• For the dressing:
• Combine all of the ingredients in a measuring cup and whisk thoroughly.
  
  
  Store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• For the salad:
• Cook the spaghetti in salted water according to package directions. Rinse under cool water and drain well. 

Pour the dressing over the pasta and vegetables and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste if desired. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese and top right before serving. Salad can be made up to 4 hours in advance.

Texas part 2

San Antonio 

Our Texas vacation 2023

• Part I

We made it safely to Texas.  I’m a hesitant traveler especially by air but once I get to my destination I am much more at ease and ready to enjoy my time wherever we go.

This is our 3rd. Visit to see our daughter and family.  They moved to Texas 3 years ago and we miss her and her boys so we know this is our new normal.  

Below are a few of the first day there.  

She loves Pacza doughnuts to I managed to bring a few on the plane.  She was thrilled!

She lives in an area where here view is of horses.  Very Texas!

Ricotta Balls in sauce

I made these Ricotta balls and added them to Marinara with some meatballs.  Crusty bread and salad made a yummy meal tonight.  Delish!

1 lb. Part skim milk ricotta

2 egg yolks 

3/4 cup breadcrumbs 

1/2 cup Pecorino Romano cheese grated 

1 1/2 tablespoons dried parsley 

Pinch salt and pepper

Red sauce) homemade or jar.  I had homemade so that is what I used.

Refrigerate cheese mixture at least 1/2 hour to be easy to roll into balls.  I am making mine about a medium meatball size.

Place sauce in a medium size deep skillet.  Heat well.

Place ricotta balls in warmed and slightly bubbly sauce.  Spoon sauce over balls.  Depending on firmness try not to move balls.*** IT IS BETTER NOT TO DISTURB RICOTTA BALLS.  They may come apart. Cook about 15 minutes on low heat.

Plate gently!  Top with a little Pecorino!!!!

ENJOY!