Collegiate Tailgate Pasta Salads Food

TAILGATE PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook and drain pasta as directed on package. Rinse with cold water to cool; drain well.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix all dressing ingredients until well blended.
• In large bowl, mix cooked pasta with remaining salad ingredients and 1/4 cup of the basil. Pour dressing over salad; toss until coated. Cover; refrigerate 2 to 3 hours to blend flavors.
• Just before serving, sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup basil over top of salad.

EASY CAPRESE SALADS

Steps:

• 1. Wash and pat dry the cherry tomatoes. You can leave them whole or cut them in half.
• 2. Wash, pat dry vine ripened tomatoes. Slice each tomato 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Place on a platter or serving dish. Cut up as many tomatoes as you want put in one layer or make two or three layers deep. Just make sure you put a dressing drizzled over each layer.
• 3. Rinse and pat dry the basil. Pull off whole leaves from the stems, the prettiest leaves are what you want to use for the cherry tomato skewers, toothpicks or clear plastic forks. For the sliced vine ripened tomato recipe, you can leave the leaves whole, cut them in half, slice into strips or mince according to your liking. *** Keep in mind that the more you break up or cut the basil... the more possible damage you do to the leaves, which can make them "get old looking" fast!
• 4. If you choose a more aged mozzarella, then cut it into appropriate size cubes.
• 5. Fresh mozzarella balls can be used with either the cherry tomatoes or the sliced vine ripened tomatoes.. Use them whole, cut in half, sliced or broken up into pieces according to which salad you are making and the "look" you are going for.
• 6. The large chunk of mozzarella can be sliced, cubed or broken into little pieces according to your desired results.
• 7. To assemble the cherry tomato skewers: Using a toothpick: Put half of a cherry tomato on the toothpick, add a piece of fresh mozzarella (cut in squares or use small round balls of cheese). add a basil leaf. add the other half of the cherry tomato. Repeat until you have the amount you need.
• 8. For each layer of the sliced tomatoes: Put sliced tomatoes on platter, add mozzarella, add basil. Drizzle with desired dressing. In the photo, it was Italian dressing.
• 9. Italian dressing. Can be used as a drizzle, or a dip.
• 10. Balsamic Vinegar Reduction. Can be used as a drizzle or a dip.
• 11. This salad was made for a potluck and it went fast!
• 12. This salad was made by my nephew's bride for their wedding reception. This was a beautiful presentation and a big hit!
• 13. My latest version! I love making and eating them!