Christmas Tree Antipasto Salad Recipes

Steps:

• For the dressing: Make the dressing in a small bowl by whisking together the balsamic vinegar, garlic and oregano. While whisking, drizzle in the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the salad: Place the romaine lettuce in a bowl. Drizzle over the dressing and toss. Arrange on a platter to make a base for the salad. Artfully place the meats, peppers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives and mozzarella balls around the platter. Garnish with the basil leaves and drizzle with the balsamic glaze.

Steps:

• For the vinaigrette: Whisk the vinegar, mustard, chile paste, Italian seasoning, shallot and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in a small bowl. Gradually whisk in the olive oil. Pour into a cruet and shake.
• For the salad: Combine the radishes, celery, romaine, iceberg, provolone, salami, tomatoes, pepperoncini and cherry peppers in a large salad bowl. Toss with the vinaigrette and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; rinse with cold water. In several large bowls, combine pasta with next 8 ingredients., For dressing, pulse vinegar, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper in a blender. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Pour over salad; toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, 4 hours or overnight.

Steps:

• In a bowl combine all the ingredients for the dip and mix until the ingredients are well combined.
• Place a piece of non-stick plastic wrap on a clean bench top or work surface. Scoop the cream cheese mixture out onto the plastic wrap and completely cover with another piece of wrap (you may need two pieces to cover it).
• Use your hands to mould the cream cheese into a tree shape. Then, carefully pick up the tree with one hand and peel off the plastic wrap on the bottom of the tree with your other hand. Place the tree straight onto a serving plate.
• Use a cake spatula to smooth the edges. Decorate with olives, sun-dried tomatoes and rosemary leaves/sprigs, lightly pressing each element into the cream cheese to ensure they stay on. Brush with some sun dried tomato oil from the jar (optional but adds even more flavour)!
• Top with a star cut out of a yellow or orange bell pepper OR a thick slice of cheese.
• Serve with crackers of your choice, salami and prosciutto slices rolled up!
• Recipe Notes.
• The cream cheese is more stable in a wider tree shape rather than a tall, thin tree. The taller tree folds over and collapses.
• If you find your cream cheese has softened too much and won't hold its shape, refrigerate it until it thickens again (about 20 minutes).
• Pat dry each olive and sun dried tomato on a sheet of paper towel before decorating your tree to make sure they stay on, or they may slide off if covered in oil from the jar.