I've been making lots of Italian foods for our meals lately becasue we are leaving for Italy in just 15 days (maybe I"ve ready told you that!). Last night we had friends over for dinner and for our first couse I made a classic Italian bread salad, called Panzanella. Nevena, one of our guests, is holding her salad to show you what it looked like.
Panzanella Salad
This salad is full of beautiful and juicy home-grown tomatoes (available at farmers markets and even in supermarkets this time of year if not in your own garden), green bell pepper and garlic. Toss in some Italian bread cubes and a vinaigrette dressing with lots of fresh basil leaves.
I served the salad over shredded Romaine lettuce. It would be delicious with shredded fresh Parmesan cheese sprinkled over the top too but that 's not in the classic version of the recipe. Ciao for now.