Think of this hearty tossed salad as a deconstructed BLT sandwich, where the bread appears in the form of croutons. Round out the plate with fresh cantaloupe.
Top the warm pasta with grated ricotta salata, which has a dense texture and salty flavor. Get the recipe for Rigatoni With Sauteed Eggplant and Tomatoes.
Salty feta plays off cherries' tart sweetness in this salad. Instead of crumbling the cheese, we coated balls with crunchy almonds for more texture and a nicer look.
A great side dish or a meal on its own. This is a Polish/Hungarian dish. Can use bacon but I cut back on that to make it meatless. Also can garnish with poppy seeds. Adding peas for color and nutrition. Bacon is a yummy addition for those that eat meat. Just brown drain most of the fat then add butter and oil and brown onions. Be sure to give the onions a nice brown color using a med high heat.
Some members of my family call it manicotti, some call it Italian casserole. So I call it Manicotti Italian Casserole. This is one of my all time favorite meals to make, and it's super easy!
I modified my Mom's recipe as I became a more experienced cook. Everyone raves about how tender and rich this dish is. I make it about every 2 weeks during the winter.—Kathie Morris, Redmond, Oregon
