GREEK SPINACH & OLIVE PASTA SALAD

As promised, here is the recipe I brought to the Fathers Day event.

I liked the one that we buy at Mustard Seed Market &

tried to duplicate theirs.

Ask my sister Fritzi...It is much better tasting after it has chilled.

She tasted it while it was warm & gave it a "thumbs down"

only to find she really liked it the next day!

GREEK SPINACH & OLIVE PASTA SALAD

---

1 box spiral or ziti or bowtie pasta (bowties are pretty, but difficult for the kids to eat)
1/2 lb. feta cheese, crumbled (I used a 6 oz. container)
1 bag washed baby spinach, stems torn off
1/2 C. (approx.) of pitted Kalamata olives from the deli...about 20 or two scoops, including the juice

grape tomatoes (I used the whole little plastic container)

1/2 C. olive oil (may need more if you think its too dry)
1/4 C. red wine vinegar *See note at bottom
3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
3-4 cloves fresh garlic, minced (we LOVE garlic, so use more if you want)
1 tsp. finely chopped fresh oregano

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1/8 tsp. black pepper (I just gave it a few good turns of my pepper grinder)

Mix oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic and spices in a jar.

I whisked them in the bottom of the serving bowl before I even started cooking the pasta, so they could marinate awhile together.

Combine cooked, drained pasta, tomatoes, olives along WITH their flavorful oil and cheese. Cover & chill for several hours. Before serving, add spinach and toss to mix. For transporting to an event, I put the spinach all across the top & just mixed it into the pasta before serving. Otherwise, it will wilt & not look so pretty. You may want to sprinkle a bit more cheese on top too, just to make it look nice.

*I also used some balsamic vinegar along with the red wine BUT it turned the pasta a beige color. It made it look like whole wheat pasta which is okay, but if you want it to stay pretty white, don't use balsamic unless you can find the white balsamic vinegar.

You could easily make up the dressing & keep it in a jar in the fridge & just pour a wee bit over some cooked pasta & throw in some tomatoes & fresh spinach & feta for a DELICIOUS easy, quick summer time salad. I promise you, you won't be disappointed. It IS yummy! The more garlic, the better, too! *wink*

Click HERE to print recipe.

I'm joining other food lovers at Michael Lee's blog

Designs by Gollum

for

"Foodie Friday"

&

Yvonne's

StoneGable

for

"On The Menu Monday"

Be sure to stop by & see what others are cooking!

Thanks for visiting The Gazebo House.

fondly,

Rett

Happy Birthday, America!

I actually set up this RED- WHITE & BLUE display on my bakers rack waaaay back on Memorial Day!

Good thing I didn't take photos of it then,

because I've added a few things since.

Plus, I was also waiting for the SUN to shine!

See those CUTE RED POLKA-DOT JARS?

I instantly fell in ♥♥♥ with them & bought the only 3 they had.

What do you think I should put in them???

The RED gingham ribbon laced through my Mom’s milk glass plate

echoes the ribbon in the Ralph Lauren Pavilion cake plate below.

I just stood some star-shaped cookie cutters up

on their sides to repeat the star effect of the

serving dish behind them.

A favorite cookbook in just the right color sits on

my newly painted book rack.

I KNOW I’m not the only one who displays cookbooks

based on their color, right?

Even the bee hive drink dispenser got a

wee bit of patriotic color!

Remember when I said not to be reluctant to buy broken sets of dishes?

I was able to only find 3 of these darling RED POLKA-DOT dishes last year.

I used them HERE with some LIME GREEN ones at Christmas,

but I LOVE them stacked with the BLUES for the 4th!

Happy Birthday, America!

Thanks for dropping by The Gazebo House

and for letting me share my obsession over dishes with you.

Its nice to know I’m not alone.

fondly,

Rett

Linking up to the following parties:

Susan's BNOTP
Tablescape Thursday
&
The Tablescaper's
Seasonal Sundays

I Savor The Weekend
Patriotic Party
&
Carolyn's
4th of July Treats!

Happy Early Independence Day, America!!!

I'm revisiting my July 4th post from last year, as we'll be away for the holiday.

I bought this tablecloth from Domestications catalog
many, many years ago.
It has stayed really nice but, of course, it only gets used 4 times a year:

Memorial Day
Flag Day
July 4th
Labor Day



I took the above photo of the centerpiece
before I found the middle
spikey-sparkley hicky-d0-jigger...
(very technical decorating term, ya' know)








Remember those gum balls leftover from
Princess Caroline's birthday party?




Don't they resemble a waving flag in
this Crate & Barrel appetizer dish?









This is one of the 3 Josephina vases
I bought from Bill at
Affordable Accoutrements

I used 2 with votive candles on the table
& one on a shelf in the foyer.

Thanks for letting me buy these
hand-blown Polish treasures, Bill.

The brand new salad plates
(stickers were still on them)
were a thrift store find
at $1 each.
♥♥♥ the diamond pattern around the edges!



American Whitehall (1960's)
tumblers for lemonade, iced tea



or maybe even a beer?




The Candy-Apple RED chargers were purchased
before Christmas at Big Lots.
I'm SO glad I bought 12 of them!



The white plates are a mixture of
American Antelier
"Bianca Leaf"
(available from Horchow)
&
Federalist Ironstone



My flatware is Oneida's "American Harmony".
I thought the name was especially
appropriate for the occasion.




The sideboard is set up, using my new
"tube quilted" table runner that I
just finished making.
You can read about how to do it
HERE & see more photos, too.
It was really easy, honest.

This is what the other side looks like.
I'm using my Longaberger Cracker Basket to hold some RED treats to go along with cake & cupcakes.




My patriotic JellO, which takes hours to make,
looked so pretty, chilling in the refrigerator
that I had to take a picture.
I thought it looked so cool.



It is worth the wait!
The blue JellO does not come in
sugar-free form, but the strawberry is sugar-free
& the Cool-Whip is "Lite" so
this dessert is pretty favorable for diabetics.

These treats below, on the other hand, are NOT!!




Not this, either!!!



I want you to know this was NOT how I requested the cake to be decorated. I think it is hideous but I didn't have the heart to ask the girl to do it over, since it was a special flavor order.
I'm sure it will get eaten & the kids will ♥ it!
(Pavilion cake pedestal by Ralph Lauren)

After I had taken all these pictures,
I went to Big Lots today &
found these darling little bowls.



They mimic the wave appearance of the
Crate & Barrel dish.


I bought all 7 that they had & still need 5 more.
They will be perfect for orzo salad or coleslaw
or any side dish really.


They add that extra little touch...
like the whipped cream on the JellO!


I remembered to put the nuts in the stars, too.
(Dollar Store, last Christmas)

Look how pretty the

iridescent

glass reflects the candle light.




Before you go, I want you to see what is inside this quilted tote.

A very patriotic quilt
for only $20 at Walmart!



Perfect for a night at Blossom Music Center,

the summer home of the Cleveland Orchestra
or a picnic in the park.



Also perfect as a tablecloth in the gazebo
for extra seating!!



More of the same napkins & rings, chargers & silverware
but we have BLUE Pier One plates along
with Walmart stars out here.






I can't remember where I found the napkins
& napkin rings. It was so long ago & my memory
isn't so great these days. LOL



Look at the cool web effect the peak of the roof
makes on the bowls of the spoons.
Neat reflection, huh?



This little swirled dish, below, is one
of 3 serving pieces
from Crate & Barrel.




Here are the other two!



Gorgonzola stuffed Greek Olives
&
Mozzarella cheese with grape tomatoes in EVOO.
Yummo!!


Fritos & Salsa are going in this one from Jo-Ann's.






Have a *COOL* 4th of July!



and don't forget to fly your Flag on the Fourth!!

Thanks for visiting the Gazebo House
& thanks to Susan at
Between Naps on the Porch
for hosting our favorite Thursday event

Also linking to I Savor The Weekend
for her Partiotic Linky Party &
Carolyn's
4th of July Treats!
&
The Tablescaper for
Seasonal Sunday

Have a safe & happy holiday!
fondly,