Antipasto Salad

A number of my extended family members flew in this week for my cousins wedding up in New Hampshire. Leah and Tray hosted a cookout at their apartment on Wednesday evening, welcoming Aunts, Uncles and cousins to Boston and kicking off the family celebrations. They served up a feast of marinated grilled shrimp, chicken and corn on the cob preceded by number of appetizers including fresh made guacamole and my antipasto salad. The Italian Pasta Salad proves a simple and satisfying summertime side dish. The authentic antipasti ingredients purchased at Salumeria Italiana made all the difference!! Living in the tourist infused mecca that is Boston's Little Italy does have its perks.

Ingredients

-1 box of rotini pasta

-2 green peppers, chopped

-1 package cherry tomato, halved

-1 cup black olives, pitted and halved

-1 can of cannellini beans

-1/2 lb fresh mozzarella cheese, chopped

-1/4 lb salami slices quartered

-olive oil, to taste-balsamic vinegar, to taste

-salt & pepper, to taste

Pitting olives is quite a project!

The cured salami from Salumeria Italian is some of the best I've ever tasted.

I bought extra of certain ingredients which made some excellent salami & mozzarella sandwiches for our road trip to NH - not to mention I have been eating them by the slice regularly.1. Cook the pasta to al dente tenderness - about 8 minutes. Drain well and cool completely.

2. Toss with peppers, olives, beans, tomato, mozzarella and salami.

3. Stir in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper as desired.

4. Chill for approximately one hour before serving.Antipasto Salad is an excellent compliment to grilled foods or even a quick and easy weeknight meal on its own, not to mention an ideal way to feed a crowd!

I have soooo many wedding pictures to sort through and a family dinner in the North End still to recap! It has all been such a whirlwind, a non stop party, and truly a blessing to spend time with family I see once or twice a year if that.

It is back to the grind today, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm looking forward to some relaxing weeknights at home at least in the beginning of the week. Summer lunch series has been a miss but it's not gone forever! Between the July 4th holiday week (Monday off, not Friday) and traveling out of town for the wedding, it has been on a two week hiatus but will return this Friday for sure!