GIVE AWAY!! Grilled/Roasted Veggie & Pasta Salad PLUS a Delicious Give Away!

A GIVEAWAY!

Recently I was given a very nice kitchen gift set from the Marzetti Company, including 4 bottles of Girard's new, improved salad dressings and was asked to blog about them.  


Sept 6, 2011... I must make a correction, some of Girard's Dressings are Kosher, but not all. Please check the labels. My error for misreading the information on Girard's website.

The good news is that one of my readers will have a chance to win a gift box of four full size (12 ounce) bottles of the same dressings I received:

Light Champagne Dressing

Greek Feta Vinaigrette

Olde Venice Italian Dressing

White Balsamic Vinaigrette

~ Please read further for contest details ~

If you're a regular reader, you probably know that I usually make my dressings from scratch, but when I do purchase a bottled dressing I always reach for a premium dressing like Girard's. Excellent quality, created in San Francisco in 1939, and all of Girard's dressings are Gluten Free and some are also Kosher.

First I made this roasted veggie and gemelli pasta salad tossed with the Greek Feta Vinaigrette. 

For the vegetables, I chose a couple of things which are abundant in the garden right now: zucchini and red bell peppers, I added slivered red onion and roasted those off for a few minutes in a hot (400˚F) oven. For this recipe I didn't roast them to the point of caramelization ~ I wanted them to remain vibrant and not mushy.

I cooked the pasta, drained and rinsed it in a colander under cold water, added the cooled vegetables, some kalamata olive halves, minced parsley, then drizzled the Girard's dressing over then tossed it well to coat all of the ingredients.  I had a little locally produced feta in the fridge so I added a few crumbles as a finishing touch. It makes a great light dinner (or lunch) on a hot summer day.

Although it's perfect for summer served at room temperature, this would also be delicious served warm, just drizzle the dressing over the hot pasta and warm roasted vegetables, add the olives and parsley and toss.

~ Next, I used the Olde Venice Italian Vinaigrette ~

To go along with dinner last night I sliced tomatoes from the garden and drizzled with Olde Venice Italian Vinaigrette, then sprinkled with herbs.

So simple, and so good, the dressing is well balanced so it enhances the sweet summer tomatoes, but doesn't overpower.

I love tomatoes still warm from the sun and straight from the garden ~ but when tomatoes aren't in season, this dressing would be really good drizzled over oven-roasted tomatoes as well.

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I haven't tried all four dressings yet, but I look forward to trying the new Light Champagne Dressing and the White Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Did you know?

With the addition of the 3 new dressings and the Light Champagne Vinaigrette ~ that brings the number of dressings Girard's offers up to an astounding 17 different flavors. There is something for every taste, and the creative possibilities are seemingly endless, (not just for lettuce.)

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The Drawing!

To enter the drawing for the gift box of four bottles of dressing: 

1. Click the link below to go to the Everyday Elegance website, look it over and pick a favorite recipe/idea that looks good to you.

2. Then come on back to my blog and leave a comment about which recipe/idea looks appealing  and I'll enter your name in my drawing:

Everyday Elegance 

 (Plus, there is a coupon on the site for $1. off your next bottle of Girard's)

3. BONUS!!! Double your chance to win ~ 

If you are a follower of my blog (sidebar, upper right corner), or if you become a new follower, mention it in your comment and I'll enter your name twice. (No need to leave two separate comments.)

>>Contest closes @ 9PM (Pacific) September 8th.<<

 ** Winner will be announced Friday, September 9th, 2011. **

Note:  If you don't have a blog, just enter your comment and check back on Friday September 9th. If your name has been drawn, send me an email with your mailing address.

----> Sorry, due to contest rules the drawing is only open to the continental US.

 ~ ~ Good luck to all who enter! ~~

This is my entry for Foodie Friday @ Designs by Gollum