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Checca

Known as Alla Checca and pronounced keh-kuh, this is a delightful sauce for pasta, especially during the dog days of summer. Prepare your pasta in a Pasta Express, put together the sauce ingredients and you will be ready for dinner without using any heat!

4 tomatoes, seeded and coarsely chopped 

4 cloves garlic, minced 

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil 

1/4 cup chopped fresh mint, optional

1/2 cup olive oil 

Salt to taste 

Grated Parmesan cheese 

1/2 to 1 pound pasta 

1. Combine tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil in a glass bowl. Season with salt. Cover with plastic wrap. Allow to sit at room temperature at least 1 hours, or up to 8 hours. 

2. Cook pasta until al dente. Drain. Pour uncooked sauce over hot pasta, and toss. 

3. Add grated Parmesan cheese to your liking and serve with warm Italian bread.

Crunchy Chicken Salad

Savory, Sweet and Crunchy! 

1 pear, cored and cut bite size

1 Golden Delicious apple, cored and cut bite size

3/4 Red Delicious apple, cored and cut bite size

1/2 cup thinly sliced celery hearts

2 tablespoons chopped red onions

2 cooked breast halves (from a rotisserie chicken)

1 cup finely shredded Swiss cheese

1 cup walnuts halves or coarsely chopped

3/4 cup Mayonnaise

1/4 cup Honey Mustard

 Breadsmith's French Peasant bread

Breadsmith'French Peasant bread

1. In a large bowl, combine pear, apples, celery, onion, chicken, cheese and walnuts. Toss to mix.

2. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and honey mustard and whisk to blend.

3. Add 3/4 of the dressing to the salad and toss well.

4. Spread remaining dressing on bread slices. Place leafy lettuce leaves on bread, spoon salad on lettuce and top with second slice of bread. Cut sandwich in half at an angle crosswise.

5 Garnish with remaining red apple , cut into thin wedges.