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Entertaining the Mediterranean Way

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Olive Oil & Sun-Dried Tomato Spread
Greek-Style Pizza
Pasta Salad With Roasted Vegetables

(Family Features) - The Mediterranean diet is full of robust, authentic flavors that will captivate your palate and delight your family and friends. To create a Mediterranean meal without purchasing a plane ticket, arrange a picnic cloth in your favorite alfresco location and lay out a spread of luscious dishes.

It's easier than ever to create traditional Mediterranean meals with creamy and delicious dressings: Hellmann's® and Best Foods® new Mayonnaise Dressing with Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a great complement to any cuisine. The new mayonnaise dressing brings you the flavor you have come to expect from Hellmann's and Best Foods with the goodness of Bertolli® Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The new mayonnaise dressing with extra virgin olive oil also has half the fat of regular mayonnaise and is an excellent source of Omega-3.

Liven up your menus with this delicious cuisine. Whether it's Greek-style pizza, fresh seafood with a light summer sauce or appetizers with tempting Italian cheeses, include some Mediterranean flavor in your summer dining. For more recipes with delicious Mediterranean flair, visit www.hellmanns.com or www.bestfoods.com.

Dining alfresco can mean a picnic in the park or a simple meal on the porch. These dishes travel easily from kitchen to wherever you spread your tablecloth.

Olive Oil & Sun-Dried Tomato Spread

Ingredients
  • 1 cup pitted kalamata or oil-cured olives
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 3/4 cup Hellmann's and Best Foods Mayonnaise Dressing with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Preparation
    1. In food processor, pulse all ingredients until well blended, but not pureed. Chill at least 30 minutes. Serve, if desired, with crackers or toasted bread rounds. This is a great make-ahead recipe, as the flavor is even better after 24 hours.

Preparation Time
10 minutes

Nutrition information per 2-tablespoon serving:

Calories: 130g     Total Fat: 13g
Cholesterol: 5mg     Protein: 2g
Carbohydrates: 4g     Sodium: 340mg

Serves
2 cups

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Tip: Olives, sun-dried tomatoes and walnuts can be finely chopped by hand instead of using a food processor, if desired.

Greek-Style Pizza

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Hellmann's and Best Foods Mayonnaise Dressing with Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
  • 1 (10-inch) pre-baked pizza crust, thin style
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 2 cups baby spinach leaves
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese

Preparation
    1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
    2. In small bowl, combine mayonnaise dressing, garlic, Parmesan cheese and oregano. On cookie sheet, arrange pizza crust. Spread with mayonnaise mixture, then top with tomatoes. Bake 12 minutes or until tomatoes are soft.
    3. Top with spinach, onion and feta. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Preparation Time
30 minutes

Cook Time
17 minutes

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories: 260g     Total Fat: 13g
Cholesterol: 20mg     Protein: 8g
Carbohydrates: 28g     Sodium: 620mg

Serves
6 servings

Pasta Salad With Roasted Vegetables

Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup Hellmann's and Best Foods Mayonnaise Dressing with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon Lawry's® Seasoned Pepper
  • 6 cups assorted fresh vegetables: zucchini, red and yellow peppers and/or red onion, sliced
  • 1/3 cup sliced kalamata or pitted ripe olives
  • 1 cup loosely packed chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 1 box (16 ounces) fusilli pasta, cooked, drained and cooled

Preparation
    1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
    2. In medium bowl, blend 1/4 cup mayonnaise dressing, vinegar and seasoned pepper. Stir in vegetables. On jelly-roll pan, arrange vegetable mixture. Roast, stirring once, for 25 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Cool.
    3. In large bowl, combine vegetables with remaining ingredients. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Preparation Time
20 minutes

Cook Time
25 minutes

Serves
8 servings

Notes, Tips & Suggestions
Tip: Add cut up cooked chicken or flaked, drained tuna for a simple main dish.

SOURCE: Hellmann's
Best Foods

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