Recipe: Olive Salad

Hi Margo -- Actually, I'm originally from Texas myself -- Austin. We now live in Spanaway, WA (the weather is much easier to take up here, for the most part). I do have a recipe for the Olive Salad, though. I've made it once, and thought it was really good. Have only visited New Orleans once, and didn't even have sense enough to try out any of the regional foods such as the Muffaletta. This recipe is from the Frugal Gourmet (although I now have another name for the man). Here goes:

OLIVE SALAD (to be made the day before)

3 large cloves garlic
1 cup chopped pimiento-stuffed green olives
1 cup pitted and chopped black-ripe olives or Calamatas
1/2 cup roasted sweet red peppers, cut into chunks
1 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

Mix all of the above and let stand overnight. Need not be refrigerated for the first night. (You can find the roasted red sweet pepper s in jars at any Italian or fancy food shop).

1 large round, freshly baked Italian bread loaf
1/3 pound salami, sliced thin (Genoa or Italian-wine cured)
1/2 pound provolone, sliced thin
1/2 pound mild cheese (such as Havarti), sliced thin
1/3 pound mortadella or prosciutto or coppa or ham, sliced thin

Cut the bread in half horizontally, as you would for a sandwich. Scoop out some of the center of the loaf and drizzle olive oil from the salad over both halves of the bread. Use plenty! On the bottom half, place the salami, olive salad, provolone, mild cheese and mortadella, etc. Top with the other half ot he loaf and slice into wedges.

There is a "clone" recipe for Schlotzsky's bread out there. I haven't tried it yet. Thank goodness Schlotzsky's is expanding and is now coming to Washington State!! My husband and I are making the trek down to Olympia tomorrow, where the closest one to us is. Can't wait. Check the TSR Board/archives for a couple of different versions on the bread -- one calling for a little sourdough starter. Let me know if you "knead" a recipe for sourdough starter. I've found a pretty good one. Actually I need to make up a new batch myself.

;0) laa