Friday, June 25, 2010

Mediterranean Orzo Salad + Kenny Loggins

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I made this orzo pasta salad last week to take as part of a picnic dinner for an outdoor concert.  It was simple, delicious, and quick.  Cooking doesn't get much easier than this!
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Ingredients:
- 14 oz. cooked orzo
- 1 yellow or red pepper, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- 1/2 cup kalamata olives, chopped
- 1-1/2 cup spinach, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup feta crumbles
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- salt & pepper, to taste
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Prepare ingredients.
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I find that the easiest way to chop the spinach and basil is to take a handful, roll it up tightly, and then slice.  I use this method whenever I chop fresh herbs.
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Once ingredients are prepared mix everything together with cooked orzo.  Refrigerate and serve cold.  Tastes great the next day too.
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Last week my Mom, Aunt, and I went to see Kenny Loggins in concert at the Meijer Gardens (If you are ever in Western Michigan the Meijer Gardens are a must see).  This was my first time to a concert @ the gardens.  It was great!  They have an outdoor stage and seating is on tiered sections on a hill.  Everyone brings their lawn chairs and a picnic dinner. 
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I brought the pasta salad, my Mom brought delicious turkey sandwiches on focaccia, and my Aunt brought this amazing appetizer platter:
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Yum!  At one point the people next to us turned and said "Wow, you guys are like the Martha Stewart group!"  Haha, it was pretty funny.
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It was a great show.  I bet that even if you don't think you are a Kenny Loggins fan, you probably are!  He has so many hits - Footloose, This Is It, The Danger Zone, Celebrate Me Home (my personal favorite), Whenever I Call You Friend, and so many more.  I might also be trying to validate the fact that I was one of the youngest people there!
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I hope you have a wonderful weekend!  I'm off to Chicago with my Dad and World's Cutest Brother to visit Baby Sister for three nights of fun in the city!
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I've linked up to Tasty Tuesdays @ A Beautiful Mess.

30 comments:

  1. This looks great! I will have to try! :)
    Have a great weekend in Chicago!

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  2. how yummy! And great for a more summer day!

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  3. I just want to say...I made your caesar potato salad the other night and it was SO GOOD!
    I will def. be making that again. Thanks for sharing all your yummy recipes!

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  4. That orzo salad looks fantastic! It looks like you guys had a wonderful evening filled with great music and yummy food! I love Kenny Loggins. My sister has a CD she used to play for my nephew and it has a song called "Return To Pooh Corner" and it's so precious. The cover to the CD is totally bizarre looking.

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  5. Salad looks delicious and who doesn't love (or secretly love) Kenny!! Have fun in Chicago!

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  6. Yey, for yummy food! Do you know where your aunt bought that appetizer platter from? It is super cool.
    xoxoxox

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  7. Kenny Loggins music brings back memories. I love House at Pooh Corner....still! Great shots!

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  8. Like Sonya - I am dieing to know where your aunt found her platter container at? I need one - how awesome is that... great for nights on the lawn listening to music!

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  9. What a fabulous job you did on that salad!!! That's actually one of my favorite dishes :) you make me want some right now! lol

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  10. You are driving me crazy with your amazing photos of food. They are so darn colorful and beautiful I want to grab a fork and dig in. If that salad tastes as good as it looks..... it must be out of this world.
    Have a great weekend!
    Dana

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  11. Looks great! Will have to try it myself...oh, making me hungry already (: Just found your blog and became a follower. I look forward to reading future posts (:

    Michele
    XOXO

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  12. I LOVE Kenny Loggins, but he looks a bit different than I remembered . . . is it just me??

    and you guys are really like, THE food stylist group! everything looks beautiful, as always. have a safe & fun trip!

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  13. What a fun salad and your pictures are amazing!

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  14. Oh my, I adore orzo and this looks fabulous!!!! YUM

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  15. How lucky are you?? Salad looks delish and fab. I'd love for you to link it up to my tasty tuesdays this week again if you can.

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  16. I just bookmarked this page - thanks, that salad looks delish! And so does that appetizer tray! That evening sounds lovely. And you are right , it's hard not to love at least ONE Kenny Loggins song- and I'm 36. That's not OLD, right?!?

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  17. looks yummy! the salad, not kenny. i gave your blog an award here http://thethriftyba.blogspot.com/2010/06/i-have-substance-really.html

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  18. Love Kenny. Love pretty-much-anything skewered...on a pick, stick, etc. My fave is a cheese tortellini, cherry tomato and black olive, drizzled with a (good) italian dressing. Total yum! (Even better when the tomatoes come from by backyard.)

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  19. Soooo yummy - can't wait to try the salad! The skewers look fantastic too!

    I love how you incorporated this into a story!

    Stopping by from Tasty Tuesdays :)

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  20. I have never even heard of orzo! How can this be?? I'm trying this recipe asap. Thanks. :-) Stopping by from Tasty Tuesdays.

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  21. wow, what an easy and healthy recipe. Not to mention, the step-by-step pictures...love it! thank you.

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  22. Your salad looks beautiful, and sounds delicious. I never thought of using orzo in a salad, but it's a great idea!

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  23. Okay so I totally would have loved that concert. And my husband so makes fun of me for it. Once a long time ago I was a member of a CD through the mail club and ordered what I thought was a Kenney Loggins CD but got a Kenney G instead. My husband thought it was hilarious because he says Kenney Loggins isn't any better, but there are some of his songs that I just LOVE. P.S. salad looks amazing. What time's dinner?

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  24. Looks fun, and that salad looks yummy. Now I know what to do with that half package of orzo in my cupboard.

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  25. Thanks SOOO much for sharing this in my tasty tuesdays. Feel free to share any other delish ideas any time. I host every Tuesday.

    alicia @ a beautiful mess

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  26. Thanks, this looks really good and healthy! And Kenny Loggins - how fun!

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  27. I love this looks so good! Visiting you from Tasty Tuesdays!

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  28. Thanks for pointing the directions to your potato salad. We didn't end up making it, but it is still on our summer list. There is a simple search engine gadget that is super handy for anyone wanting to find a post. Just one word will get them there. I use it all the time on my own blog when I want to link back to a post. It will cut down on annoying emails like mine : )
    Dana

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  29. I saw Kenny Loggins in Phoenix years ago. It was a really good concert. Now we didn't have your food with us, which looked delicious! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Have a wonderful day! Denise@cottagesisters

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  30. That salad looks delicious! Thanks for the new recipe. :) Found you via Remodelaholic, happy to be a new follower.

    -Ann Marie

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