Donna's Mediterranean Salad, White Sangria, Tara's Quick Iced Tea, Sulfur Island Iced Tea

Dear Culinary Adventurers, a simple pizza party can be turned into a feast with a few outstanding side salads and desserts.  In celebration of our 7 month old grandson, Phinneaus, we hosted a pizza party this past weekend for 21 family members and served this luscious vegetarian salad as well as Donna's Hash Brown Potato Salad (see 04 January 2015 post for recipe) and Donna's Shrimp Guacamole Salad (24 December 2014 post for recipe).  May you live long and prosper!  Best, Donna:

Donna's Mediterranean Salad

(Inspired by James Caruso’s Ensalada Mediterranean)

Ingredients:

1 cup sauvignon blanc or other white wine

One 6 ounce package dried apricots, cut into thirds

One 12 ounce package Medjool dates, cut into thirds

3 Tablespoons raspberry vinegar

¾ cup olive or canola oil

¼ cup honey

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon cracked black pepper

10 ounces (~7 cups) spring mix lettuce or arugula

½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted

½ cup Marcona almonds

½ cup blue cheese, crumbled

Gluten free croutons

¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Method:

Heat the wine in a small saucepan and add the dried fruit.  Bring to boil and heat until liquid is almost absorbed.  Remove from stove and set aside to cool.  Mix together the next 5 ingredients for the dressing.

Place the greens on a large platter and top with the cooked fruit, olives, almonds, blue cheese and croutons.  Pour dressing over top of salad and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese to finish.

Serves 12.

Donna’s White Sangria

 Ingredients:

One 1.5 liter or two 750 mL bottles pink Pinot Grigio or white zinfandel

1½ cups Canada Dry ginger ale

1 cup apricot flavored brandy

Assorted sliced fruit such as lemons, limes, oranges, peaches, strawberries

Method:

Mix all ingredients in large pitcher and chill.  Add fruit to sangria just before serving.

Serves 6 – 8.

Tara's Quick Iced Tea

Place 4 tea bags, any variety, into a quart jar and fill with cold water.  Microwave 3 - 5 minutes until water turns brown.  Chill in refrigerator.  Add ice and lemon or other citrus slices when serving.

Sulfur Island Iced Tea

Combine equal parts of Tara's Quick Iced Tea with Donna's White Sangria, add ice cubes and fruit and enjoy!

Copyright 2015.