Helloooo Spring

I don't know about you, but I'm totally ready for warmer weather! I definitely have spring fever - I'm ready to get out of the house and go somewhere . . . anywhere . . . and cooking hasn't been my biggest priority lately. I thought a few of my favorite warmer weather recipes might help me get back into the cooking spirit, so this week I made Pasta, Pesto and Peas and bread salad (panzanella).

The panzanella is pictured above (I was in a hurry and tossed it on the same plate I used for the picture, so please forgive the sloppy look). I had almost forgotten how much I love this panzanella recipe, which I first tried last summer. It starts with bread and kosher salt, toasted in olive oil (love bread and love salt too) - and if I can keep myself from eating the toasted salty bread by itself, I add chopped tomato, bell peppers, and basil. Normally I add cucumber, but an avocado caught my eye at the grocery store, so tonight it was avocado (which was a good addition). I top it off with viniagrette and capers, toss it together and enjoy. Tonight I actually made my own vinaigrette (normally I use Brianna's), and I was very pleased with how it turned out. Unfortunately, I tried to transfer the unused vinaigrette to a cute little bottle but ended up pouring 75% of it on the counter. Good thing it is easy to make more!

Barefoot Contessa's Vinaigrette
1 teaspoon finely minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/2 cup good olive oil
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Whisk all ingredients together.

P.S. Homemade chocolate ice cream is churning right now . . .