{ Garden Party Salad Recipes }

I've got two yummy salad recipes for you today. We served both of these at our Garden Party the other day. Yum!

BASIL & TOMATO PASTA SALAD

created by Martha Stewart

2 large ripe tomatoes, seeded & coarsely chopped

4 oven-dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, chopped

coarse salt & freshly ground pepper

1 lb. garganelle or penne rigate

1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed

also:

12 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise

1/4 cup olive oil

coarse salt & freshly ground pepper

coarsely chopped fresh herbs such as oregano, marjoram, flat-leaf parsley (optional)

Combine fresh & oven-dried tomatoes, oil, garlic, salt, & pepper in a large bowl. Marinate at room temperature for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, 7-10 minutes. Drain well, and while still hot, toss with tomato mixture.

Coarsely chop basil & combine with pasta. Serve immediately, or at room temperature.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place tomatoes cut side up o baking sheet. Drizzle with oil & season with salt, pepper, & herbs. Bake until shriveled but still moist, 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

PEAR & CUCUMBER SALAD

created by ??? {my SIL gave it to me}

1 half lb. bag of Spring Mix lettuce

2 pears, diced

2 cucumbers, diced

Craisins, as much as you like

candied pecans, as much as you like

BRIANNAS Poppy Seed Dressing {my fave!}

{Here's a picture of the dressing. I get it at Target because it's cheaper.}

Toss all ingredients together & serve right away

ENJOY!

{ Garden Party }

Well, I'm still alive & figured it was time to move those Christmas pictures down off the top of the blog. Haha.

Yesterday a few friends & I put on a luncheon for a few of our friends just for fun. We talked about gardening and ate and talked. It was great!

Of course, I forgot to take pictures before everyone got there so I hurried quick and took them before too any people got started. But that means they are not the best quality.

Yummy salads. Here is the recipe for the Italian Chopped Salad.

My next post will be recipes for the Basil & Tomato Pasta Salad and the Pear & Cucumber Salad. They were all delicious!

I love my utensil set & have been waiting to use them! I got two sets here and just keep adding to them.

I put the paper plates in a cute pie dish that I had.

My friend made these chocolate cupcakes baked in terra cotta pots. So cute!

She even put candy rocks on top that looked so real!

The Rasperry White Chocolate Bars that another friend made were delicious!

I couldn't stop eating them! You can find the recipe here.

And another friend {it's great throwing a party with help...so much easier!} made these carrot cake cupcakes with little fruit roll up carrots on top.

Adorable! She got the idea here.

Drinks

We also talked about when we serve others how it nourishes us as well. There are so many ways to connect gardening with spiritual concepts.

We handed out potted flowers with this little quote, "Pollinate the world with the pure love of Christ."

It was such a fun afternoon. I can't wait to do it again!

One last thing to share...

My new chalkboard! I found the idea on Pinterest {of course!} and my husband and I threw it together on Saturday so it would be done for the luncheon yesterday.

I love how he hardly blinks now when I tell him I have a new project. Here is the link for the outdoor chalkboard.

Happy Spring everyone!