three of my favorite salads

Today I’m sharing three really yummy salad recipes that I made and photographed for Country Sampler Farmhouse Style magazine.

 

This first one is a BLT Pasta Salad that's so perfect for making ahead and just noshing on during the week as a quick ready-made lunch.

It’s also great for a potluck or picnic side dish. You can’t go wrong with fresh ingredients and a little bacon. It really does taste like a BLT!

 

 

BLT Pasta Salad

Serves 4

 

12 ounces corkscrew-shaped pasta

12 ounces lean bacon (reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon drippings)

1-pint cherry tomatoes, cut into halves or quarters

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sour cream

4 tablespoons chopped chives or scallion greens

1 tablespoon lemon juice

 5 cups chopped romaine lettuce

 

1.   Cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Discard all but 2 tablespoons drippings from the pan.

2.   Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water as the label directs. Drain and toss with the bacon drippings in a large bowl; set aside.

3.   Crumble the bacon into bite-size pieces; set aside 1/4 cup for garnish. Toss the remaining bacon and the tomatoes with the pasta.

4.   Mix the mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons chives together in a small bowl and toss with the pasta until evenly combined.

5.   Season with salt and pepper. Chill until ready to serve.

6.   Add the lettuce; toss again to coat. Garnish with the reserved bacon and the remaining 1 tablespoon chives.

 

A Caesar Salad and Potato Salad combo? Why not?! This one is really delicious, and I love the way the potatoes soak up the creamy Caesar dressing for an added boost of flavor.

 

This salad is also great for a potluck or just treat yourself and make it as a side dish to a weekday dinner for you and the family.

 

Caesar Potato Salad 

3 pounds (8 to 10) medium red potatoes, scrubbed 

¼ cup olive oil 

1 minced small garlic clove 

2 tablespoons lemon juice 

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 

½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 

½ teaspoon anchovy paste (optional)  

2 Tbs mayonnaise 

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 

1 ½ cups shredded romaine lettuce hearts  

Salt and pepper

 

1. In a large pot, bring potatoes to a boil in salted water over high heat. Reduce to a simmer and cook until tender when pierced with a knife, 15 to 20 minutes.

 

2. Drain and let cool completely. Cut potatoes into 1 ½ inch pieces. 

 

3. In a large bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, anchovy paste, mayonnaise and Parmesan.

 

4. Add potatoes while still warm and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Add romaine hearts just before serving. To store, cover and refrigerate up to one day.

 

Coleslaw is a healthy side dish any time of the year, and this one is zazzed up with the addition of apples, bacon and almonds.

Check out the ingredients... it’s so easy to make, and I’ve added a little bit of yogurt in the dressing for a bit of extra freshness.

 

 

ciao! fabiana

 

 

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farmhouse style spring features

The new Spring issue of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style is now out, and I have to say it’s one of my favorites ever.

 

I was privileged to have 11 projects to work on for this issue and was absolutely stunned when one of the pictures I submitted was chosen for the cover!

 

The DIY projects they wanted were so up my alley, and I think that’s why I was able to work on so many. Among the projects I created, styled and photographed were three for the “Happy Houseplants” article.

 

Here are the three pictures that include a fun little embroidery hoop trellis project, a houseplant tower made from stacking vintage nesting tables, and a tablescape with several of my favorite houseplants as the centerpiece.

 

During the early days of the pandemic, our sunny living room became a haven for these plants, and I also learned how to propagate more by rooting cutting in water.

Vintage McCoy flowerpots are a cohesive element to this table, and I love how all the greenery and pale blues look with my Luka Blue table runner and napkins by Pacific and Rose.

  

Blueberry French Toast Casserole anyone? Treat yourself to a weekend favorite any day of the week. This one is so easy to make and is studded with fresh blueberries and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Recipe can be found on page 112 of this issue.

There's also a fun recipe I whipped up for Cinnamon Roll Crepes on page 111.

 

I was also thrilled Country Sampler Farmhouse Style was going to feature vintage food crates in an article because I do have a few really old ones that I love.

 

Among the crate projects included for the “Well Crated" article was the old Schwinn bike that made the cover.

 

I also put together a fun on-the-go picnic crate that has everything on would need for a pretty little picnic.

And then there's this tablescape...

The challenge was to set a table with a variety of spring vegetables running down the center of the table.

 

Vintage blue and white checked gingham anchors the table, and I also sprinkled in reclaimed clear glass bottles to act as candle holders. Little white daisies also add a vintage charm to the table.

White cotton napkins were dyed naturally with turmeric root to reveal the most beautiful yellow color. Fresh garden herbs add fragrance and a touch of the garden to the table. 

Give me all the pretty flowers so I can make a living, breathing pennant garland. Wouldn’t this be romantic for Valentine’s Day, a bridal shower or Mother’s Day?

 

I took scraps of some of my favorite chintzy floral fabrics and sewed them into an old-fashioned style bunting with a few pockets full of posies. Check out all the details on page 88

All-in-all, I think this is a really fun issue, filled with lots of springtime inspiration and lovely home tours. If you have a chance to pick up a copy, let me know what you think!

 

 

  

 

ciao! fabiana

 

 

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15 picnic favorites to whip up now

With the summer heatwave we’ve been having this week, I haven’t been cooking much, since I’m just craving mostly cold things right now, like salads, fruit and charcuterie. So, in my search for yummy summertime meals, I came across Country Living’s list of 98 Summer Picnic Food Ideas.  

Whether you’re laying out your favorite picnic blanket or not, these foods sound pretty amazing. I’ve chosen 15 of their easy recipes to showcase today that are variations of meals I already love to make. 

Our favorite alfresco spot at dinnertime is our backyard table. We love to sit on the picnic benches and enjoy a lovely meal under the shade of our olive tree.  

My top pick for dinner tonight would be the Tossed Salad with Green Goddess dressing. Have you ever made this salad dressing before? It’s such a tasty and healthy choice made with avocado and lots of fresh herbs. I think I'll add some shredded rotisserie chicken for a little protein. Super yum!! 

Here's a look at my favorites...

Ham Biscuit Sandwiches with Apricot Mustard 

5-Ingredient Strawberry Salsa 

Grilled Artichokes with Harissa-Honey Dip 

Bacon Lettuce Cups

Classic Lobster Rolls  

Pimiento Salad Club Sandwiches 

Blackberry Almond Buckle

Grilled Hot Dogs with Fixin's

Old-Fashioned Lemonade 

Apricot-Prosciutto Focaccia

Raspberry Crumb Bars

Best Salami Sandwich with Cauliflower Relish

Heirloom Tomato Salad

Tossed Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Mojito Watermelon

ciao! fabiana 

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Recipes and photos courtesy of Country Living