Are you planning a cookout this summer but not looking forward to working at the grill while your guests are mingling and having fun? Who says outdoor summer parties have to revolve around the grill? I have a fabulous recipe for a pasta dish that would be wonderful served with some soft Italian bread and perhaps a Caprese Salad. A Caprese Salad is simply a salad of sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil. You top it with a drizzle of olive oil and I like to add balsamic vinegar.

You can make the pasta salad and the Caprese Salad ahead of time as they are both delicious chilled. Serve with a nice white wine and you have the makings of an elegant summer dinner party.

Mediterranean Chicken Pasta Salad

1 rotisserie chicken (precooked)
1 pound fettuccine cooked according to package directions
4 oz. feta, crumbled
2 roasted bell peppers, julienne
4 Tablespoons fresh oregano leaves, divided
1 pound fresh baby spinach
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

In a large bowl, combine warm fettuccine, feta, red bell pepper, 3 tablespoons oregano, and baby spinach. In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice and white wine vinegar and while constantly whisking, slowly add the olive oil to make a dressing.

Finely chop the remaining tablespoon oregano and add to dressing. Pour dressing over salad. remove chicken parts from the whole bird. Slice or shred the chicken and add to pasta salad. Toss to mix.

The last step in preparing your meal is making sure that you serve it in an elegant and memorable way. I would suggest using some pieces from the Emerson Creek Pottery Dragonfly design. I would slice up the Italian bread and stack it up on the Dragonfly Frilly Round Tray. The pasta dish would go in the Dragonfly Ceramic Pasta Bowl. I would serve the Caprese Salad on the Dragonfly Large Frilly Tray. Lastly, I would keep some Extra Virgin Olive Oil in the Dragonfly Drizzle Bottle to serve along side all of these dishes.

Entertaining can be simple if you have a couple of tasty recipes on hand and attractive serving pieces.