Mixed Greens With Olives Red Pepper Food

EASY TOSSED GREEK SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine lettuce, cucumber, olives, tomatoes, red onion, and cheese.
• Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar, cover and shake well. Pour over salad and toss to combine just before serving.

MARINATED MIXED OLIVES

Steps:

• If olives are in brine, drain and discard liquid. Toss all the olives together in a bowl. Toss with a generous amount of olive oil, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, rosemary sprigs, salt, and slivers of fresh garlic. Let marinate at least overnight and up to a couple weeks in the refrigerator - they'll only get more flavorful.

FRIED PEPPERS AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil, 3 sage sprigs, the zest of 1 lemon (in strips) and a pinch of red pepper flakes in a skillet over medium-high heat, 1 minute. Add 6 to 8 baby bell peppers; cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add 8 smashed garlic cloves and cook 3 more minutes. Add 1 cup mixed olives and cook 2 more minutes. Transfer to a dish and serve with crusty bread.

BAKED RIGATONI WITH RED PEPPERS AND GREEN OLIVES

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Cook onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until onion is slightly softened, about 4 minutes. Add roasted red peppers and salt; season with black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture is jammy, 8-10 minutes. Add olives, tomato paste, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring often, until tomato paste is slightly darkened in color, about 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands as you go, and their liquid and cook, stirring often, until slightly thickened, about 4 minutes.
• While sauce is cooking, place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 350°. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente (about 2 minute less than package directions; pasta will continue to cook in the oven). Drain pasta, reserving ⅓ cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Add pasta and reserved pasta cooking liquid to sauce. Reduce heat to medium and stir in butter, oregano, and half of Parmesan. Cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and glossy and coats pasta, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in half of mozzarella.
• Transfer pasta to a 13x9" baking dish and spread into an even layer. Scatter remaining Parmesan and mozzarella over. Bake until bubbling around the edges, 15-20 minutes.
• Heat broiler. Broil pasta until top is brown and crisp in spots, about 3 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, then top with basil for serving.

SAUTEED GREENS WITH VINEGAR

Steps:

• Shake the rinsed greens in a colander to remove the excess liquid, but the leaves don't have to be thoroughly dry.
• Heat a large pot over high heat until very hot. Add the olive oil. When the oil is almost smoking, add the garlic and cook for a few seconds until it is light brown. Add a couple of handfuls of greens and toss with tongs, incorporating the garlic so it doesn't burn on the bottom of the pan.
• Add the remaining greens all at once, or in batches if your pot isn't large enough to hold it all at once. Toss constantly so the greens wilt evenly. When wilted, season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking over high heat, tossing often, until the excess liquid evaporates.
• Turn greens out into a bowl and let it cool to room temperature, then season with vinegar. Serve at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 2 days and eat cold.
• Michael's Notes: The wine vinegar will cause the greens to lose their beautiful green color. You can omit it, but I think it improves their taste.

MIXED GREENS WITH QUICK ROASTED RED PEPPER DRESSING

Steps:

• In a blender, combine roasted red peppers, basil, oil, vinegar, salt, and ground pepper. Puree until smooth.
• Pour dressing over greens just before serving.

GRILLED BALSAMIC CHICKEN OVER GREENS

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium heat.
• Pour 1/2 cup dressing over chicken in shallow glass dish. Refrigerate 15 min. to marinate, turning after 7 min. Remove chicken from marinade; discard marinade.
• Grill chicken 5 to 7 min on each side or until done (165ºF). Cut into strips.
• Toss greens, peppers and olives in large bowl. Top with chicken. Drizzle with remaining dressing; sprinkle with cheese.

ITALIAN SALAD WITH LEMON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients; toss lightly. If desired, add toppings., In a small bowl, whisk vinaigrette ingredients until blended. Serve with salad.

MIXED GREENS

Steps:

• Wash the greens well, picking them over to remove any brown spots or blemishes. Drain well. Discard the discolored outer leaves and cut out the thick ribs. Tear the greens into pieces. Place the bacon strips in a large heavy saucepan and cook over medium heat until it is translucent and the bottom of the pot is coated with the rendered bacon fat. Add the greens and the water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and continue to cook until the greens are tender, about 2 hours. Add the seasonings and serve hot.
• Traditionally, greens are accompanied by a hot sauce, chopped onions, and vinegar. In some parts of the South, cooks add a pinch of sugar to the greens to take away a bit of their bite.

SUMMER PEPPER SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix the green bell pepper, red bell pepper, yellow bell pepper, cucumber, parsley, feta cheese, and olive oil. Chill at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator before serving.

GRILLED VEGETABLE SALAD WITH GREENS, TOMATOES, HERBS, OLIVES AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Prepare barbeque (medium-high heat). Whisk 3/4 cup oil and vinegar in medium bowl to blend. Place onion, beets, zucchini, eggplants, and red bell pepper on baking sheet. Brush both sides with some of vinaigrette. Sprinkle vegetables with salt and pepper. Grill vegetables until just cooked through, about 10 minutes per side for beets, 6 minutes per side for onion and 4 minutes per side for zucchini, eggplant, and peppers. (Vegetables can be grilled 1 hour ahead. Let stand at room temperature.) Brush bread with additional olive oil; sprinkle with pepper. Grill bread until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes per side.
• Arrange greens on large platter. Overlap tomatoes atop greens in center of platter. Sprinkle tomatoes with salt and pepper. Arrange grilled vegetables atop greens around edge of platter. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over tomatoes and grilled vegetables. Sprinkle tomatoes and vegetables with herbs. Sprinkle tomatoes with goat cheese. Sprinkle Romano cheese over all. Garnish with olives. Serve with bread.