Christmas Tree Antipasto Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Using a 4-in. ghost-shaped cutter, cut one ghost from each slice of cheese. (Reserve remaining cheese for another use.), In a large bowl, combine vegetables, salami and olives; toss to combine. Just before serving, drizzle with salad dressing and toss to coat. Transfer to serving plates; top with ghosts.

Steps:

• In a bowl combine all the ingredients for the dip and mix until the ingredients are well combined.
• Place a piece of non-stick plastic wrap on a clean bench top or work surface. Scoop the cream cheese mixture out onto the plastic wrap and completely cover with another piece of wrap (you may need two pieces to cover it).
• Use your hands to mould the cream cheese into a tree shape. Then, carefully pick up the tree with one hand and peel off the plastic wrap on the bottom of the tree with your other hand. Place the tree straight onto a serving plate.
• Use a cake spatula to smooth the edges. Decorate with olives, sun-dried tomatoes and rosemary leaves/sprigs, lightly pressing each element into the cream cheese to ensure they stay on. Brush with some sun dried tomato oil from the jar (optional but adds even more flavour)!
• Top with a star cut out of a yellow or orange bell pepper OR a thick slice of cheese.
• Serve with crackers of your choice, salami and prosciutto slices rolled up!
• Recipe Notes.
• The cream cheese is more stable in a wider tree shape rather than a tall, thin tree. The taller tree folds over and collapses.
• If you find your cream cheese has softened too much and won't hold its shape, refrigerate it until it thickens again (about 20 minutes).
• Pat dry each olive and sun dried tomato on a sheet of paper towel before decorating your tree to make sure they stay on, or they may slide off if covered in oil from the jar.

Steps:

• Cook pasta to al dente firmness according to package instructions. Drain and rinse pasta under cold water, then transfer to very large mixing bowl.
• Mince yellow onion and transfer to mixing bowl.
• Drain mushroom pieces and transfer to mixing bowl.
• Drain olives, slice finely, and transfer to mixing bowl.
• Cut pepperoni in half and transfer to mixing bowl; be sure to separate pieces if needed.
• Cut bar cheese into little cubes no more than 1/2" on a side; transfer to mixing bowl.
• Cut sun dried tomatoes into little pieces no more than 1/2" on a side; transfer to mixing bowl.
• Drain roasted red pepper slices and cut them into little pieces no more than 1/2" on a side; transfer to mixing bowl.
• Pour entire bottle of zesty Italian dressing into mixing bowl and mix ingredients thoroughly before refrigerating.