Some folks might think that Baby Shower chow should be light and elegant. Finger sandwiches and tea cakes. Well, we in Wisconsin had 1 foot of snow and a get-together and we decided soup and salads would be just fine. I made 2 tried and true favorite soups White Chicken Chili and Sausage, Kale and Potato. I made my old fashion creamy pasta salad and then I created this…SubStyle Pasta Salad.
Oh, I forgot to mention–there was a garlic allergy in the group. Can you imagine living a life without garlic? I had to do a bit of thinking and I made everything from scratch so I could control the ingredients. Sausage, Kale and Potato soup I used ground pork instead of prepared Italian sausage. I seasoned with onion, fennel seed, red pepper flake and black pepper. I also added smoked paprika and salt. I made a big batch of chicken stock to use with both soups. Chicken bones, carrots, celery, onion and parsley with salt, pepper and a bay leaf. 12 cups of water and I had plenty. For the Chicken Chili I dusted them with cumin and black pepper and grilled the white meat to add flavor. Grilled onions, diced green chili and a dash of Cayenne completed the special diet restrictions. NO Garlic was harmed in the making of this meal.
Now back to the salad. I thought about everything I love in a grinder, hogie, hobo or subway. I scoured the veg isle and added some no garlic pepperoni and salami from the local butcher.
SubSalad
2 lbs bowtie pasta cooked 5 minutes or half cooking time
1 cup carrots, shredded
3 ribs celery, chopped fine, leaves too.
4 green onions, chopped, white and greens
1 cup orange bell or sweet pepper, chopped
1 cup red bell or sweet pepper, chopped
1 cup English cucumber, chopped
1 cup Italian parsley, chopped fine
1 cup black olives, sliced in half
1 cup green olives, sliced in half
10 slices or about 1/2 cup each Salami and Pepperoni
1 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
Dressing
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup Olive Oil
1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
salt and pepper
Mix the dressing in a jar with a lid and shake it well.
Add 1/2 dressing to pasta right after you drain and set it in the fridge to cool while you chop. Toss in your choice of veg and mix then dress again with the remaining dressing. This salad was a hit! Bright and light and fresh. This is a meal all by itself. I brought home an empty bowl. This fed 40 people as a side dish,
I had forgotten how much fun a baby shower really is. The ohhhh and awwww at the tiny onesies and booties. The room was full of hope, happiness and love. It was great to hear the veteran Moms give advice…”Pick your battles”, “Sleep when the baby sleeps”, “Don’t quit”, “Remember boys are different than girls”…
I am not sure what is happening with me…my perfectionism and budget both seem to be disappearing. For decorations I pulled out the construction paper and dug thru the toy box for diggers and dump trucks.
Next time I will show you the decorations.
Sara
