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Greek Panzanella

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Colorful fresh veggies, tossed with vinaigrette and crispy homemade croutons, make this warm and hearty Greek Panzanella the perfect appetizer, salad, or meal.

Colorful fresh veggies, tossed with vinaigrette and crispy homemade croutons, make this warm and hearty Greek Panzanella the perfect appetizer, salad, or meal.

As much as I love cooking now, I didn’t do much of it when I was growing up. It wasn’t until I moved away to college that I began to appreciate the quality of cooking I grew up with, both from mom and from my stepmom. There’s nothing like bland cafeteria food to open your eyes to how good you had things.

I spent much of that first summer break trying new recipes, and this Greek Panzanella was one of them. It was  so easy to throw together, even with my amateur cook status. Now, years later, it’s still a favorite. The recipe is the perfect fun alternative to the typical veggies and dip found at so many showers and parties.

Colorful fresh veggies, tossed with vinaigrette and crispy homemade croutons, make this warm and hearty Greek Panzanella the perfect appetizer, salad, or meal.

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Pasta Salad with Sweet Tea Vinaigrette

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #SummerTastes #CollectiveBias

All your favorite summer flavors come together in one easy, hearty dish: pasta salad with sweet tea vinaigrette.

All your favorite summer flavors come together in one easy, hearty dish: pasta salad with sweet tea vinaigrette.

Pasta salad is one of my favorite summertime dishes. I love me some carbs, but I also love making those carbs guilt-free by tossing them with plenty of fresh vegetables and a light vinaigrette dressing. I love to have a batch of pasta salad in the fridge to eat on each day, but I also love to bring it to cookouts and get-togethers.

All your favorite summer flavors come together in one easy, hearty dish: pasta salad with sweet tea vinaigrette.

It’s a fairly crowd-pleasing recipe, and it can be made using any produce you want. I grabbed the veggies pictured when I bought the rest of the ingredients at Walmart; you can buy whatever sounds good to you.

All your favorite summer flavors come together in one easy, hearty dish: pasta salad with sweet tea vinaigrette.

I love sweet tea about as much as I love pasta salad. As a Southerner, I’m practically legally required to love the stuff, but I assure you it isn’t that hard of a task. What’s not to love? That’s why I considered it pretty ingenious to combine the two to create a pasta salad with sweet tea vinaigrette.

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roasted red pepper hummus

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Roasted red pepper hummus, packed with nutrition and flavor, is surprisingly easy to make at home.

Roasted red pepper hummus, packed with nutrition and flavor, is surprisingly easy to make at home.

Hummus is one of my favorite snacks. It’s filling and flavorful, the perfect dip for sliced bell peppers or carrot sticks. During the school year, it’s a staple in my lunch bag.

I used to buy hummus at Sam’s Club. It’s a reasonable price, and I would definitely recommend buying it that way if convenience is your priority. If you have a few minutes to make it at home, though, or if maximum flavor is important to you, go ahead and make it from scratch.

Making your own hummus allows you complete control over the ingredients. This recipe packs a flavor punch you won’t find in the store-bought version. The roasted red peppers are the star, with their bold smokiness and subtle sweetness. The cumin offers the perfect amount of heat, and the garlic brings it all together with it’s spicy nuttiness.

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