Tri Color Pasta Salad with Lemon Stuffed Olives

Oh my Goodness...I have discovered this new line up of olives from Star Fine Foods recently and they've opened a whole new world of recipe ideas. Like the ones I used for my Tri-Color Pasta salad. I took a classic recipe and brought it to life with Star's new Lemon Stuffed Olives. Oh what a difference. These olives have such a bright essence of citrus and give this salad a fresh and lemony taste that makes it just awesome!  

Tri Color Pasta Salad with 

Lemon Stuffed Olives

3 cups multi-color rotini or fusilli pasta, cooked and drained 
1/2 cup Star Fine Foods Lemon StuffedGreen Olives

3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

½ teaspoon dried oregano

¼ cup sweet red pepper, chopped or diced

½ cup mozzarella cheese, cubed

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cup Star Fine Food Extra VirginOlive Oil

3 tablespoons Star Fine Foods Red Wine Vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

Pinch of sugar

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add about 2 tablespoons of salt.  Add pasta and cook until al dente.  Drain in a colander and transfer to a large bowl to cool.

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, and vinegar. Add in the  vinegar, fresh basil, oregano and salt and pepper and sugar and mix until blended. Set aside for about 10 minutes.  

Once the pasta has cooled, add the cheese, red pepper, and olives and gently toss. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently. If you need to add more olive oil to moisten the pasta, add about a teaspoon or two at a time. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy! 

Photography is the property of and copyrighted to ©Welcome Home.

Lemon Stuffed Olives are available at Save Mart, Nob Hill, Raley’s and Lucky stores and online at http://bit.ly/LemonStuffedOlives.

So far I've tried Star's new  Hot Pepper Stuff Olives, the new Flavor Destinations Italian Garlic and Basil Marinated Olives, the new Flavor Destinations Spanish (Tomato & Peppers) Marinated Olives, and of course the new Lemon Stuffed Olives.

And I love them all! 

Disclaimer: I have an ongoing relationship with STAR Fine Foods for my recipes and photography using their wonderful products. This post is sponsored by STAR. I am compensated for my time and work and I am sent products as I request them. However, all opinions of the product stated in this post are 100% my own. I truly love their products!

My Italian Wedding Soup

I love this soup and make it often. I love everything about it from the tiny little orzo pasta to the little meatballs and all the other wonderful ingredients. It is hearty and delicious and just gets better each day until it's all gone! 

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Italian Wedding Soup

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Meatballs:

1 small onion, grated

1/3 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 large egg

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon salt

1 slice fresh white bread, crust trimmed, bread torn into small pieces

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

8 ounces ground beef

8 ounces ground pork

Freshly ground black pepper

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For the meatballs: Stir the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the cheese, beef and pork. Using 1 1/2 teaspoons for each, shape the meat mixture into 1-inch-diameter meatballs. Place on a baking sheet.

Soup

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 tablespoons butter

2 cups diced onion

1 cups finely diced carrots

2 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced

4 quarts chicken broth

3/4 teaspoons of dried oregano

3/4 teaspoons dried basil

10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach

salt and pepper to taste

2 2/3 cups uncooked orzo, or other small, round pearl shaped pasta

Melt butter and olive oil in large soup pot or Dutch oven. Add onions and carrots and saute until onions are tender. Add garlic and continue stirring for two or three more minutes. Then add your chicken broth and the oregano and basil and bring to low boil for about 5 minutes.

Add the frozen spinach to the broth mixture and break it up as it thaws. Lower heat and simmer for about 15 more minutes as it cooks. Gently drop the meatballs into the soup. 

Simmer the soup for 30 minutes or so, then stir in the pasta, cooking till it's al dente. For orzo, this will take about 8 minutes or so. Add more salt and pepper to taste if needed.

Photograph is the property of and copyrighted to ©Welcome Home.

The new January issue of Welcome Home Online Blog Magazine is now available

The new January issue of Welcome Home Online Blog Magazine is now available for your viewing pleasure!  These are only some of the newest recipes in this month's issue....

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Chocolate Rum Balls

Rum balls are not only delicious, they can make a great gift for family and friends. Wrap them in clear bags, put them in jars or tins or boxes tied with a ribbon and they become a delightful surprise.  I put them in mini papers and then in a small box with a bright red ribbon at Christmas and they are always a hit. They are so easy to make and you don't need an oven for these no bake goodies! 

Chocolate Rum Balls

1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans 
1 1/4 cups crushed vanilla wafer cookies
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 cup rum
8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1 oz melted white chocolate

In a large bowl, mix together nuts, cookies, sugar and cocoa. Add in corn syrup and rum and mix until everything sticks together. Cover and refrigerate for about 2 hours.  Once chilled, make 1 inch balls and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. 

Place 4 ounces of chocolate and 2 tablespoons of butter in a heat proof bowl. Over a pot of simmering water, stir until melted. Pour into shallow bowl and dip balls into chocolate. Place back on cookie sheet. Then, they go back into the refrigerator until chocolate is set. 

Once they are set I like to melt some milk chocolate and drizzle over some of the balls and some white chocolate on the others.  But you can also roll the balls in cocoa powder, powdered sugar, coconut, chocolate jimmies, etc.

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Cranberry Orange Chutney over Warm Baked Brie

When it comes to making  holiday appetizers, everyone needs just one very reliable  crowd pleaser.  Here is a pretty and easy appetizer that will be on your favorite list for every holiday get together. I mean, who wouldn't love warm cheese topped with a wonderful citrus flavored sweet cranberry sauce.  It's warm, sweet, savory and buttery....it's the perfect holiday appetizer.

Cranberry Orange Chutney over Warm Baked Brie

1 (12 ounce bag) fresh cranberries
1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
zest of 1 orange
dash of cinnamon
juice of one orange

Heat water in medium saucepan and add cranberries.  Add orange juice, sugar, cinnamon and orange zest and bring to boil over medium high heat. Cranberries will begin to pop open and sauce will begin to thicken as you stir.  Continue to stir for another 10-15 minutes on low as mixture thickens. 

Remove from heat and into a heat proof bowl.  Cover and refrigerate for an hour. It will become jelly-like as it cools.  Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Unwrap your wheel of brie and place it on a parchment lined baking sheet or oven proof pie plate. Bake the Brie for about 8-10 minutes until soft and warm. 

Spread the cranberry chutney over top and serve.  You can also add some chopped pecans or walnuts on top if desired.  Serve with crackers or warm bread rounds.

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Red Onion and Walnuts

Brussels Sprouts are one of those vegetables that you either love or hate. I happen to fall into the love category.  

I’m not sure why they fall into the hate category…I think mostly because of the way they are prepared. I think boiling or steaming makes them soggy and bitter. But when you oven roast Brussels Sprouts, they become amazing!  Roasting brings out the sweetness in them and changes haters into lovers instantly!  

I like to add a little red onion and some walnuts for a little extra nuttiness and crunch. Then I drizzle them with a little Star Fine Foods Olive Oil with garlic and roast them until they are tender on the inside and the edges of the leaves on the outside become perfectly crispy. This is the perfect recipe for a love/love relationship!

 How to pick out the right sprouts:  Look for hard, bright-green sprout heads and try to choose roughly the same size so they'll cook evenly.  Buy them lose in the produce section and not on the stalk. That way you can pick the ones you like best.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Red Onion and Walnuts

1 1/2 pounds Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

2 small red onions, sliced

3 tablespoons Star Fine Foods Family Reserve Olive Oil with Roasted Garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

½ cup shelled walnuts, roughly chopped

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a small to medium skillet over medium heat, toast your walnuts for 4-5 minutes. Stir frequently so they don’t burn. Set aside.

Clean and trim Brussels sprouts and cut them in half. Slice your onions and chop your walnuts.

In a large bowl, combine sprouts, onion, salt and pepper. Add Star Fine Foods Olive Oil with Garlic and toss to coat well. 

Spread on sprouts and onions on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper and roast at 425 degrees for 20-30 minutes, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are tender and caramelized.

Remove from baking sheet and add the walnuts and toss well. Drizzle with more olive oil with garlic if desired. Serve immediately.

Photography is the property of and copyrighted to ©Welcome Home.

STAR Garlic Infused Olive Oil is available at Raley's and Save Mart stores and online at:

http://bit.ly/STARGarlicOO

Disclaimer: I have an ongoing relationship with STAR Fine Foods for my recipes and photography using their wonderful products. This post is sponsored by STAR. I am compensated for my time and work and I am sent products as I request them. However, all opinions of the product stated in this post are 100% my own. I truly love their products!