Recipe Swap: Greek Pasta Salad

This recipe is from my daughter, Marisa.

Before she was married, she lived with two friends in an apartment. Marisa’s friends go back to her nursery school days, and I have known the mothers of her friends for just as long. I arrange get-togethers at my house a few times a year for all of us.

One time, I invited my daughter’s friends and their moms for a ladies night at my home on a Thursday evening. I work and so do all of the moms and daughters. I decided to tell the “girls” (Marisa’s friends, who were between 26 and 27 years of age at the time) to each bring a dish. I was serving only appetizers or desserts.

These girls were a little traumatized. Even my daughter said to me, “You’re going to ask them to bring desserts, and you aren’t going to bake?” Of course, I was going to bake—and cook and clean—but I didn’t want her to know what I was doing. I said I needed help with the food.

Luckily for me, I trained my daughter never go to anyone’s home empty handed. Marisa usually always asks me if I want her to bring something over to our house or she just brings it. Of course not all the time, because I am her mom and this will always be her home.

Most of the time she will bring some type of food with her. I really didn’t ask her to bring anything, but I expected her to do something. I also wanted these young women to grow up and pitch in by asking them to bring an edible item.

I entertain them at my home all the time. When they come with their mommies, they don’t bring anything because their mommies contribute a dish, and they ride their coattails.

These are not 10-year-old girls; they are women who are a quarter of a century old. Besides, they travel more than I do, and they drive newer cars than I do. So, is it to much to ask them to bring some type of food when they come as a guest to my house?!

I do want to add that not all of the girls need to be told. And it isn’t the cake I want; it is the thought. I think enough of them to have these get-togethers as many times as I can during the year.

If I sound proud of my daughter, it is because I am. Not only does she always bring something to my house, she brings something to other’s homes wherever she is an invited guest. Manners are very important to instill in our children no matter what their age.

Besides bringing this Greek Pasta Salad to me, Marisa also shared her recipe with me. Life is a circle, and when you are lucky, you are the start and your kids are the finish!

Greek Pasta Salad

• 1 pound bow tie pasta
• 1/2 red onion
• 1/2 red pepper
• 1 cucumber
• 1 11-ounce can of black olives
• 3 plum tomatoes
• 4 to 6 ounces crumbled feta cheese

Dressing

• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1-1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1-1/2 teaspoon basil
• 2 or 3 garlic cloves, minced
• salt and pepper

1. Cook bow tie pasta according to directions on box. After cooking, run under cold water and drain well. Place pasta into a large bowl. Wash and chop tomatoes. Peel and rinse cucumbers. Cut cucumber into small cubes. Toss into bowl.
2. Chop red pepper and red onion and toss into bowl.
3. Open black olives can and drain and slice. Toss into bowl. Lastly, sprinkle feta cheese over the whole bowl. Toss everything to mix together.
4. To prepare dressing, squeeze the juice from a lemon to get 1 tablespoon and add to a large measuring cup. Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, basil, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk together well. Pour the dressing on the salad. Toss until all dressing is absorbed.
5. ENJOY!—Zorba would be proud to serve this salad!

Mariann Raftery, creator of Somebody's Mom blog, cooks up comfort food recipes for families here at home, as well as sending homemade cookie care packages to our American soldiers overseas. Somebody's Mom Cooking videos at http://www.youtube.com, search "Thesomebodysmom"