Page 41 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2024

Tomato Salad
The next two salads include one common addition: the homemade ranch. A Southern woman’s ranch recipe is almost as sacred as the bacon grease she keeps in a mason jar on her counter. However, I am going to grace y’all with the best ranch you’ll ever have.
RANCH INGREDIENTS
1⁄4 cup sour cream
3⁄4 cup Dukes mayonnaise 2 tbsp lemon juice
1⁄4 cup heavy cream
RANCH DIRECTIONS
1 tbsp minced garlic
1⁄2 pack ranch mix
Salt and pepper (to taste) Optional: 2 tbsp fresh dill
1) In a medium size mixing bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and heavy cream. Mix well.
2) Add ranch, salt, pepper, garlic, and dill (if you choose to use it). Mix well.
3) Chill for no less than 30 minutes covered in the refrigerator.
Now that our ranch dressing is ready, let’s move on to the next salad. The BLT pasta salad is hearty, budget-friendly, and downright delightful.
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BLT PASTA SALAD INGREDIENTS
6 oz bowtie noodles
4 cups lettuce (chopped)
1 1⁄2 cups grape tomatoes (halved)
BLT PASTA SALAD DIRECTIONS
8 oz bacon (crispy, chopped)
1/3 cup red onion (finely chopped) Homemade ranch (recipe above)
1) Follow the instructions on the pasta box. Once pasta noodles are cooked, rinse them with cold water, this not only removes the starch, but it also cools the noodles down.
2) Making sure to drain the noodles, add them into a large mixing bowl along with all of your remaining ingredients.
3) Gently toss ingredients together until all of the elements of the salad are coated with the homemade ranch.
4) Allow to chill, covered, for 30 minutes before serving.
TOMATO SALAD INGREDIENTS
2 medium tomatoes ( 1⁄4 inch slices) 1⁄4 red onion (sliced)
1 fresh corn on the cob
(roasted and cobbed) 1⁄2 seedless cucumber
( 1⁄4 inch slices)
TOMATO SALAD TIPS
When plating, opt for a platter and arrange the vegetables in a staggered yet intertwined manner, ensuring each serving contains a variety of ingredients. Drizzle
1 cup crumbled cheese (herb infused is amazing)
5-6 sprigs of chives (chopped) 6-7 fresh basil leaves
Ranch (recipe above)
ranch dressing over the vegetables and finish with a sprinkle of chives and basil for garnish.
Additional topping suggestions; bacon, feta, fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, and fried onions.
BLT Pasta Salad
Finally, the tomato salad I’ve crafted embodies the essence of summer. Whether you opt for its purest rendition or use it as inspiration for your culinary creation, this vibrant dish exudes freshness and warmth.