Ooh-La-La Farfalle Caesar Salad!

Happy Birthday, Dear Joyness! You are the delight of my life.    In our day in and day out routines of life, sometimes we can get in a rut with our menu... How about trying something different with your Caesar Salad this week? This side dish has become a staple in our home, whether paired with a nice bowl of soup on a cold day or with a warm piece of garlic bread or fresh french baguette with butter on a warm summer day! In addition, it is just as much a feast for the eyes as it is for the appetite! A beautiful presentation when placed on a platter! Add grilled strips of chicken breast to serve as a great meal to take to a friend or to a potluck! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Farfalle Caesar Salad

Ingredients:

5 qt water

2 tsp salt

12 oz dried farfalle pasta

1 T plus 1/4 C extra-virgin olive oil

Creamy Caesar Dressing (recipe below - or you may have your own favorite)

1/4 lb country-style bread, crust removed, cut into 3/4 in cubes

3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

salt and freshly ground pepper

1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese

*Optional grilled chicken breast to make a complete meal

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large pot over high heat, bring water to boil. Add 2 tsp salt and the farfalle and cook until al dente, 10-12 min. Drain farfalle and toss it immediately with 1 T olive oil. Cover and cool completely in refrigerator, 1 hour minimum. Prepare the Caesar dressing. To make croutons, toss the bread with 1/4 C olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Place on baking sheet and bake, tossing with a spatula occasionally, until golden and crisp, 10-15 min. Place the farfalle in a large bowl and add Caesar dressing and coat evenly by tossing. Add salt and pepper to taste. to serve on platter, layer ingredients for a beautiful display or toss completely and serve in individual bowls or plates. Layer Romaine or mixed salad, then dressed farfalle, then croutons and parmesan cheese. *If you are adding grilled chicken, mix in bowl with farfalle.

Dressing:

2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2 T fresh lemon juice

2-4 anchovy fillets in olive oil, drained *mash if doing in a bowl.

1/2 C mayonnaise

1/4 C extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 C heavy cream

Directions:

In a cuisinart, pulse together the garlic, mustard, lemon juice, anchovies and mayo. Th en, in a slow, steady stream add the oil with the cuisinart running and then gradually add the cream in a slow, steady stream to finish. If making in a large bowl, add ingredients the same, but using a whisk to incorporate ingredients. Salt & pepper to taste if needed.