Simple Yet Impressive Tomato Pasta Salad

I always have a few recipes tucked away that are simple and easy to make at the last minute for the inevitable invitation that comes at the last minute. Here is a simple yet beautiful Tomato Pasta Salad recipe that takes advantage of the amazing heirloom cherry tomatoes that are so prevalent at the Farmer's Markets right now.

Heirloom Tomato Pasta Salad

Dressing (A wonderful Italian that I love. The recipe only takes 2/3 so you will have some left over for a salad with dinner.)

1 1/4 cup grapeseed oil
1/2 cup champagne vinegar (Available at Target for $4.99. It truly makes the dressing.)
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp sweet paprika
6 cloves pressed garlic

Combine all and shake to mix.

Salad
4 cups/3 baskets assorted heirloom cherry tomatoes cut in half
1 cup mozzarella balls, halved
1 lb cooked and cooled penne pasta
1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan
Black pepper

Combine pasta, tomatoes, and cheeses. Dress with 1/2 to 2/3 of dressing recipe. Mix gently, sprinkle lightly with black pepper and garnish with a sprig of basil. Travels beautifully.

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

In this day and age of Tweeting, Facebook, and IM, receiving a hand written note in the mail is fun and nostalgic. No one expects to receive a letter from a friend, much less a long missive. So don't be afraid to drop a quick note to those near and dear in the mailbox. Just a few lines in your own hand let those you love know you are thinking about them enough to take the time to put pen to paper and not just click send.

I love to send photographs that have been rediscovered, clippings from newspapers and magazines that remind me of a friend, comics that I know will elicit a smile, and of course, recipes. I always have on hand the few simple supplies needed for this noble endeavor. Pens, assorted stationary, stamps, and of course my address file.

Tired long ago of constantly scratching out and updating a more traditional address book, I created this handy file with index cards, a pencil, and a metal key ring. By always using pencil, updates are simple and clean. And for those few occasions where someone has moved often, I can simply pluck out the card and make a new one. I also regularly update phone numbers I've acquired in my cell phone so if I lose it or it dies, I still have all of the numbers. I even keep cards for those people I have lost track of over the years as a reminder to try and look them up every now and then.

Send your friend a letter and brighten their day. There is truly becoming no better way to catch someone by surprise.

Mai Tai Exchange

Dearest Eric,
I decided to try the Barefoot Contessa’s Mai Tai recipe recently and am sad to say it did not come out well. It tasted AWFUL. I even tried using a dark rum for more depth but all I could taste was the citrus from the orange juice and heat from the alcohol. Boring! Here’s the recipe:

½ Cup white rum
¼ Cup Triple Sec
¼ Cup Fresh Lime Juice
¼ Cup Fresh Orange Juice

How can we improve upon this recipe? Summer is here and I need a cocktail while I sit on my lounge chair and watch Bucky the bunny run amok in the garden.

Regards,
Jackie


Dearest Jackie,
I did some research into Mai Tai’s and it seems every modern recipe references Trader Vic’s original recipe except the Barefoot Contessa. The key ingredient seems to be orgeat syrup which is an almond syrup, which you can find at Beverages and More. After comparing multiple recipes, here is an amalgamation for you that relies heavily on Trader Vic’s recipe from his 1946 cookbook. Tell me what you think!

Juice of 1 orange
Juice of ½ lemon
2 ounces golden rum
½ ounce curacao
1 teaspoon sugar
½ teaspoon orgeat syrup

Shake all together with ice and garnish with an orange or pineapple slice.

Regards,
Eric

image via myrecipes.com