Caprese Salad

Julia Child used to say that she didn't like Italian cooking because she didn't really consider it cooking.  Well, with all due respect to Julia, sometimes great food comes out of your kitchen regardless of the way it is prepared. 

You may not even have to "cook" at all!

Today's recipe perfectly demonstrates my point! 

CAPRESE SALAD

It is fresh, fragrant, and full of flavor, but it only takes minutes to throw together and you won't even have to turn on your stove.

Let me show you how I do it!

Caprese Salad: 

*Prep Time: 5 min.  *Cook Time:  --  *Difficulty:  Easy  *Servings: 2-4

Ingredients:

• 1 ball of fresh mozzarella
• 1 tomato of equal size to the cheese
• 1/2 c. of pesto
• Aged balsamic vinegar to drizzle
• Basil
• Salt and pepper

Tools:

• Serrated Knife
• Cutting Board

To begin, rise and dry your tomato.

Then, slice the tomato in 1/4 inch slices.

Next, slice the cheese into equal portions.

We are going to learn a fancy cooking term today.

CHIFFONADE

Basically this means that we are going to cut our basil into ribbons. 

First you will stack them on one another.

Then, roll them up like a cigar.

And finally, slice into this ribbons.

Now to assemble.

I like to start with the tomato, then cheese, then a dollop

of pesto.

(Yes, I used jarred pesto.)

Repeat until you have used all of the tomato and cheese.

Season with a little salt and pepper.

Drizzle with the balsamic vinegar.

Here I used an aged balsamic.

If you do not have ages, place a 1/4 c. of regular balsamic in a

small sauce pan and reduce by half.

Sprinkle with the chiffonade of basil and enjoy!

This is quite possibly my favorite summer salad!

It is great as a side dish with fish or a little grilled chicken, even on it's own as a light lunch.

You are sure to love this dish and it is a perfect way to get your kids in the kitchen cooking with you!

Enjoy this fantastic salad,

And as always...

Happy Reading, Happy Eating, and Happy Living,

~The Kitchen Wife~