Manly Meaty Pasta Salad

This pasta is perfect for a group of hungry guys. It is full of meat that you would find on a big Italian sub! And if you are a fan of peppers and onions, which I am not, I am sure they would be great in here as well.

1 pound of pasta
2 ¼ inch deli slices of ham
2 ¼ inch deli slices of pepperoni
2 ¼ inch deli slices of salami
8 ounce block of mozzarella cheese
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 can sliced black olives
1 16 ounce bottle Zesty Italian Dressing

Cook pasta in salted water.

While pasta is cooking, cut up ham, pepperoni, salami, mozzarella and tomatoes.

Drain pasta and mix in all but 1/3 cup of dressing. When the pasta has cooled down some, mix in your ham, pepperoni, salami, mozzarella, tomatoes and olives. (You do not want to mix everything in with the pasta still hot because it will start to melt the cheese).

Set pasta mixture in the refrigerator overnight or for at least a few hours. Right before serving mix in the reserved 1/3 cup of dressing.

One year ago: Party Meatballs

Southwestern Pulled Brisket

I was really craving something Mexican and after searching the web I stumbled across this recipe. I had never made brisket like this before and I was little worried it may end up tough...but it turned out wonderful! Mine was served on chipotle corn tortillas and Chili Lime Rice.

From: Food Network

INGREDIENTS

3 pounds beef brisket
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1 Spanish onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon chili powder
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, with their juices
2 whole canned chipotle chiles en adobo (2 chiles-not 2 cans)
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons molasses
tortillas/buns
pickled jalapenos/cheese/sour cream/rice* optional for serving

DIRECTIONS

Season the beef generously with salt and pepper, to taste. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and heat just until beginning to smoke. Add the meat and cook, turning once, until browned on both sides, about 10 minutes total. Transfer the meat to the slow cooker; leave the skillet on the heat.

Add garlic, onion, chili powder, coriander, and cumin to drippings in the skillet and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add vinegar and boil until it's almost gone, scraping the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Stir in water and pour the mixture over the brisket. Crush the tomatoes through your fingers into the slow cooker; add the tomato juices, chipotles, bay leaves, and molasses. Cover the cooker, set it on LOW, and cook the brisket until it pulls apart easily with a fork, about 8 hours (I cooked mine for 10 hours).

To serve, leave the meat in the slow cooker and use 2 forks to pull it apart and stir it evenly into the sauce; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove and discard bay leaves. Pile the meat on sandwich buns or tortillas and serve with jalapenos, cheese, sour cream and/or rice.

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