• Pasta Salad Season

    by Holly • June 30, 2009 • Cheese, pasta, vegetarian, vinaigrette/marinade • 3 Comments

    One of my favorite things about a summer BBQ or Picnic are the side dishes. Chip and dip platters, roasted veggies, kabobs, cole slaw, your almost full before you even dig into a burger or dawg. My new summer side dish love is the versatile pasta salad. I’m not talking about the stuff you buy at the deli that is drenched in Wish Bone Italian Dressing; I’m talking about these bad boys:

    Grilled Chicken Pasta Salad w/Artichoke Hearts & Orzo Feta and Tomato Salad w/Marjoram Vinaigrette
    Now these are the Pasta Salads I’m looking to scarf down this summer.

    I saw Barefoot Contessa make a yummy Lemon Fusilli Salad with Arugula so I found the recipe online, tweaked it a bit and ended up with a tasty Pasta Salad that I would be proud to present at my next Picnic.

    Changes in Recipe:

    • I didn’t have arugula so I just added extra broccoli
    • Swapped the Fusilli for some Bow Ties
    • Added the lemon juice at the end, I didn’t want the taste to get bitter while simmering on the stove but I still added the zest at the beginning
    • Substituted half of the cream with vegetable stock to cut back on some of the richness, but I had to simmer it a little longer to get the right consistency
    • NOTES: I know this recipe calls for the broccoli florets, but I happen to really enjoy the steam. If you peel off the outer tough ends, the inside is nice and tender. Also this recipe works great cut in half

    Here is my finished product, it’s fine served warm or at room temperature. I would love to hear some other Pasta Salad recipes that you Crows are cooking up!

    About Holly

    The Story of Holly

    Told by Miz Emily

    Holly first introduced me to the concept of "caw-ing" almost 3 years ago. My life has never been the same. By day this crow works the office life but by night you will certainly find Holly (Party Pants) Stevens in her Jamaica Plain kitchen cooking and dancing the night away in true crow fashion. Proudly hailing from Maine's Old Orchard Beach, this wild one has figured out how to combine her love for New England- its history, its food, & its boozy dance parties- with her love of classic elegance. Holly's food is fresh, locally produced, healthy, and full of flavor. A self-described salt hound, no taste bud goes untouched by a meal at Holly's nest. By combining simple salads with rich pastas, fish, and soups, no visitor will leave unsatisfied. Moreover, no hangover goes uncured when morning walks with Holly are kicked off with a hidden stash of irish coffee, and finished off by a nice warm plate of oven potatoes and frittata.

    Glancing around her kitchen you will find a few staple items including a mini whisk (for perfect salad dressing), the classiest compost bucket I've ever seen, a kick-ass vegetable hutch, and most importantly a tasty beverage ready to meet your hand. Her home is cozy and warm, and her hospitality is outmatched by no one. On the bookshelves you will find recipes given to her by friends, and books like Omnivore's Dilemma and Salt: A World History, the later being one of the best book suggestion I've ever received, and the subject of her college thesis. Never missing the chance to make a dinner party a dance party, Holly is in constant motion, ready to motivate the group with classy tunes like Credence, Al Green, and GirlTalk. Unless, of course, Top Chef is on.

    http://crowsinthekitchen.com

    3 Responses to Pasta Salad Season

    1. emily
      June 30, 2009 at 12:26 pm

      You beat me to it! I was going to make a pasta salad post!

    2. Holly
      June 30, 2009 at 12:37 pm

      Post your heart out girl I love Pasta Salad!!!

    3. riane
      July 6, 2009 at 10:19 am

      barefoot contessa pretty much has the best salad recipes. her shrimp dill feta orzo is def my fav

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