Summer Spaghetti Salad

Most of y’all up in the Mid-West and all along the Atlantic coast are going through a major heat wave right now.  I talked with mom earlier today and she gave me this recipe for a nice cool summer salad.  She said it is to hot to heat up the kitchen with her oven so she is trying to make more recipes with her crock pot and other methods that don’t include her oven.   This is a variation of the recipe she gave me from our family friend Linda.  She uses McCormick’s Perfect Pinch Salad Supreme Seasoning  but I decided to make my own seasoning mix.  I don’t usually keep these kinds of premixed seasonings on hand.  I prefer making my own.  But if y’all like, you could definitely pick up a container of McCormick’s and use instead of my combination.   Heck, if you make mine, you might want to change it up a bit and create your own flavor combination.

• 8 ounces angel hair – broken 1” pieces (or pasta of your choice)
• 1 tomato – diced
• 1 small green pepper – sliced fine
• 1 small cucumber – diced
• 1/2 teaspoon Summer Salad Seasoning (recipe below)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teas pepper
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 3-4 basil leaves – torn

 

1.  Cook, drain and cool spaghetti.

2. Mix together the Seasoning mix, sugar, olive oil, salt, pepper and vinegar and pour over spaghetti, peppers, tomatoes, cucumber and toss. 

3. Best to refrigerate overnight to let all the flavors marry .

4.  Toss with the torn basil leaves and serve.

 

SUMMER SALAD SEASONING

Great on all types of cold salads and seasoning for fresh or roasted vegetables.

• 4 tablespoons grated Romano Cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame seed
• 1/2 teaspoon poppy seed
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Mix all together and store in sealed container in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.