Thursday Fun Stuff-Great Links & A Favorite Summer Salad
Sorry for being MIA. Last week I picked up baby Summer on Thursday morning. Steve and I had her all to ourselves for two days and then her parents joined us for the long weekend. Needless to say, I enjoyed every minute but didn’t get anything else accomplished! Today I am popping in for a quick Thursday Fun Stuff post. I am sharing some fun links and a favorite go-to summer salad of ours. Ina Garten’s Panzanella.
I make this salad a lot during the height of summer when tomatoes are at their best.
Most recipes I tend to tweak. This recipe is perfect just as it is (as are most of Ina’s). I don’t change a thing.
Barefoot Contessa Panzanella Salad
Ingredients
for the salad
- 3 T extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small french bread or boule cut into 1 inch cubes to equal 6 cups
- 1 t kosher salt
- 2 large ripe tomatoes cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 large hothouse cucumber cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 yellow bell pepper seeded and cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/2 red onion cut in half and thinly sliced
- 20 large basil leaves coarsley chopped
- 3 T capers
For the dressing
- 1 t finely minced garlic
- 1/2 t dijon mustard
- 3 t champagne vinegar
- 1/2 c good olive oil
- 1/2 t salt
- 1/4 t pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large sauté pan. Add the bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Add more oil as needed.
For the vinaigrette, whisk together the ingredients.In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, basil, and capers. Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Serve, or allow the salad to sit for about half an hour for the flavors to blend.
I love to serve this salad with Ina’s Tuscan Lemon Chicken. If you like it more lemony (I do!) I use a good lemon olive oil in place of the regular olive oil. Finish it off with fresh corn on the cobb and you have a simple summer meal.
My friend Kim from Northern California Style did a post on the new Proper Hotel designed by Kelly Wearstler that was a really fun read.
If you are planning a trip to Biarritz France, Annie from Most Lovely Things did a fabulous post on where to stay and eat and everything else in between. I want to go!
Vicki Archer often has a few posts that really stop one in their tracks this post, Better Not Younger Invisible will give you pause if you are over 60 or beyond.
Brenda (or Hilde Plumpepper) had some great advice on how to wear the jean on jean look in this post about the Canadian Tuxedo.
My friends Kristy and Beth from Design Chic have fabulous taste and share gorgeous homes but this week’s house tour featuring the work of Lauren Elaine Interiors (someone new to me) was so refreshing and flat out pretty!
I hope you enjoyed my Thursday Fun Stuff. On Monday I will be back with a small laundry and powder room project of mine (hint the owners are two of my favorite people). Thursday will be devoted to fashion (as long as life doesn’t get in the way).
Have a great day and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest if you aren’t already. I so appreciate your support.
Hi Debbie
Thank you so much for weighing in. Vicki Archers post was poignant wasn’t it? Love to your darling grand daughter!
Loved this post… all of it! I, too have a granddaughter that I treasure. She is now 9. It just gets better and better!
I was very taken with Vicki Archer’s post. I am 71 with a beautiful 39 year old daughter. I feel exactly as she does…. with invisibility come OPPORTUNITIES and the time and space to explore them. I feel blessed to be HERE. Thank you.
Oh this was so fun! I adored this post and thank you so much for including Ms Plumpepper! What an honor! Now I’m off to make the salad!
XOXO, Jill Anthony
Hi Jill
I am in awe of your talent (whoops I mean Hilde’s). Always enjoy your posts!!
LOVE INA!
We share the same NAME!
Her books are THE BEST short and ONE PAGE!
XX
So interesting you would say that about one page Eliz. My friend who is a gourmand always comments on that. One page + one picture = perfection!!
I adore posts like this, Cindy! Thank you. I Pinned the salad recipe first thing. But actually, I was initially delighted to see your granddaughter…she is just precious! I can imagine how wonderful it is to have her to yourselves for two days!!
Happy Weekend!
Jane x
First, your granddaughter is just beautiful. Could I fix her up with my 5-year-old grandson or is he too old? He is a real charmer. I may have actually drooled over the Lauren Elaine interiors. So clean and classic but not at all frumpy. I’ll be trying Ina’s salad thanks to your recommendation. Her Tequila Lime Chicken is our summer company go-to. Thanks for a great post!
Happy Thursday. Isn’t it fun have a granddaughter!? It’s truly the icing on the cake of life. 🙂
I love Ina’s Panzanella salad and the chicken dish you mentioned.
Hope you are staying cool.
xo,
Karen
Hi Karen
Yes it is so much fun! I like nearly all of Ina’s recipes. I feel like the tests and retests before they are ever released. That is why they are all good! I would love to see pics of your grands!!
Thanks for sharing… and including me… in this fun post! I love roundups like this because it gives us a chance to stop by other blogs. There are so many great women out there, blogging! You’re granddaughter… She is adorable! And I love anything Ina! I have all of her books. Have you tried her avocado, corn salad? Yum!! xoxox, Brenda
I have all of Ina’s books too and I rarely buy cookbooks anymore because everything is on Pinterest. I have not tried the corn and avocado salad but I love her avocado & tomato salad. I am going to have to look that one up!
I love this salad, and every other recipe Ina makes. I have not tried the lemon chicken yet, thank you for the tip! Beautiful granddaughter, how wonderful to be so close to have here for a few days.
That little Summer is as pretty as her Grandma!!! Going over to read about the Canadian Tuxedo right now! Have a good weekend!
Happy Thursday to you too. Where did this week go?? Your granddaughter is precious and I can see how she would prevent you from doing anything but be with her. I too LOVE Panzanella Salad! I’ll have to try Ina’s recipe.
Hi Celia
I am such a big Ina fan. Rarely if ever have I tried a recipe of hers I did not like. Have a great weekend!
Cindy