Caprese Salad Christmas Tree

 


2 heads of romaine lettuce 

2 pints cherry tomatoes

2 8 oz. containers of bocconcini sized mozzarellas,  drained

1 cup basil leaves, cleaned and chopped

1 cup of your favorite salad dressing to drizzle over the romaine leaves;

 Italian Vinaigrette, Ranch, Olive oil and balsamic vinegar etc.

Note: Add croutons or nuts for something crunchy


Pull lettuce leaves from the stalk of the romaine head and rinse them.  Pat them dry.  

Arrange the leaves from the top of a tray down vertically to resemble a christmas tree with the cups facing up and the tips of the leaves facing down..

Fill each cup with a few cherry tomatoes, boccacini’s and basil leaves.

Drizzle your dressing over the leaves.  


I use bread sticks for the trunk of the tree and a star shaped cookie cuter to cut out a piece of cheese for the top.


Optional: If you are making this Christmas tree inspired salad for a group, offer several dressing options and have each person individually put dressing on their salad.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tilapia and Warm Lentil Salad

Image
 To elevate this dish, a Fume Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc pairs perfectly.  Tilapia with Warm Lentil Salad 4 6 oz tilapia filets Marinade: 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 3 cloves of minced garlic 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp salt  1/2 tsp pepper Warm Lentil Salad 1 cup rinsed green lentils 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 2 tsp Dijon mustard 1/4 cup finely diced red onion 1/4  cup fresh parsley, chopped 4 cups of arugula 1/2 tsp salt  1/4 tsp pepper Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Marinade: Put all the marinade ingredients into a mason jar and shake well or whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl.   Pat the tilapia filets dry with a paper towel and add them to a plastic sealable bag.  Pour the marinade over the pieces. Gently place the bag into the refrigerator for 20 minutes or up to an hour. Place marinated tilapia filets onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes. Warm lentil salad: While the tilapia is marinating
Read more

Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic

  Roasted Cauliflower and Garlic 1 head of cauliflower chopped into florets 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 3 cloves of garlic minced 1 tsp each salt and pepper 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. In a large bowl, toss cauliflower florets with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Spread the florets evenly  in 1 layer on the sheet pan. Roast in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the florets are fork tender and slightly browned. Top roasted cauliflower with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.  Serve.
Read more

Harvest Roasted Vegetables

Image
  Harvest Roasted Vegetables 12 slices of bacon 1 lb. cleaned brussel sprouts halved 1 lb. butternut squashed, peeled, seeded and diced 1 cup fresh cranberries  1 large sprig of fresh rosemary with leaves removed and chopped 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper Optional:  Drizzle of maple syrup right before serving (approximately 1-2 tbsp.) Preheat oven to 400 degrees Line a baking sheet with foil. In a large skillet, cook bacon until crispy over high heat.  Remove bacon from the skillet and chop into small pieces.  Reserve 1/4 cup of the bacon drippings.  If you have less than 1/4 cup of bacon drippings, add extra virgin olive oil to equal 1/4 cup. In a large mixing bowl, add halved brussel sprouts, diced squash, fresh cranberries and rosemary. Drizzle bacon drippings, salt and pepper over the vegetables and mix well to combine. Spread vegetables in one layer on the baking sheet.  Bake for 40-45 minutes until vegetables are tender. Transfer vegetables to a serving di
Read more