I keep showing this salad in various forms. It is one you cannot damage in any form. It is also one that was the hit of Thanksgiving. People took home left overs from the feast and this is the one they selected to talk about while trying to figure out what was in it exactly and how was it dressed. The beauty of this rendition is that anything you like goes in it--it is a left-over delight. One can use any substantial pasta rendition to the al dente level because if you over cook the pasta it gives up and get rubbery. If you have reached that stage by mistake, serve it with another dish and start again with the pasta. You should have everything cut up and in the bowl that you want to use up--left over cheese from the cheese board, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet onions or shallots or chives...see anything goes. After everything is in the pretty bowl, dump in the hot or warm pasta, THEN dress it while it is hot with any of your favorite Italian dressings, your own lemon vinaigrette, Trader Joe's Goddess dressing--that choice is yours. The warm pasta laps up the dressing and perks to attention--almost a salute to the cook of good choices. The meat too is your choice but odds and ends of salami any kind of hard salami (and a variety) is always good but not necessary. It is what you like, what is left over and the way you make it your signature salad. It lasts for days and can be carried to work for lunch and everyone will want to take a look, have a bite, and think you are the very best cook in the office. Oh, for an office party it would be perfect. Now get up and start cooking, Christmas is two week away and company's coming! Happy day!
Amazing inventions. Andy and I went back to the car dealer for instructions on how to use all of the do-dads connected to these new cars. It is totally amazing. I can drive down the road (sitting on my heated car seat), hands on the heated wheel, and say dial Andy Lechler and this woman, unknown to me, dials the number (my hands are still on the wheel and my eyes are still on the road) and lo and behold Andy answers the phone from his arm chair. This has to be right up there with sliced bread.
This unknown woman will also tell us where the nearest restaurant of our choice is and verbally lead us there. It is going to be an exciting trip to Florida with all of these features. Joe and Glenda will be giddy with delight when we show them these smart tricks.
I see a button over head that if you push it help will be available immediately. You are never alone in these new cars. Andy has been back twice to learn about the new features and I have sat through it one time. The guide does this every day all day long...it's his job and I can tell you I would have to strangle a few people if I were in his shoes. We can be soooo dense at times and he is always so patient.
