Recipes & Food Styling

Grocery Store Grub: Craving Chicago – and Whole Foods!

I miss Chicago so much! So much of life there is the incredible foods, and plenty of my best food memories are of grocery store grub. I remember when Whole Foods was new on North Avenue. My parents delighted in telling me about the burgers they ate there while I was working during one of their many visits from Northern Wisconsin. “They even have a little restaurant!”  They couldn’t get over city life at the grocery store. 

I rarely ate in at Whole Foods, but grabbed my grub to go from the fabulous prepared foods selection in the coolers. They are still there, but the food we got hooked on is gone for good. 

One of the best salads I still crave was the Smoked Mozzarella Salad. Thanks to the magic of the internet, I now have the recipe and can (and do) whip it up from time to time in my kitchen in Wisconsin. Far away from any Whole Foods or anything like the original stores, this salad quenches a craving like a cold drink on a hot summer day!   

Whole Foods Recipe: Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

1 pound penne pasta

1 12-ounce jar roasted red peppers, diced

1/2 pound smoked mozzarella cheese, diced

1 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup white wine vinegar

6 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

3 cups baby spinach leaves, torn

1/2 cup Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Boil water and cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions.

While the pasta is cooking, dice the red peppers, parsley, and mozzarella separately.

In a food processor or blender, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, and garlic, and blend until smooth.

When the pasta is al dente, rinse it in cold water, and drain.

In a large mixing bowl combine the pasta, dressing, spinach leaves, red peppers, cheese, and parsley.