what's for dinner tonight {cheese ravioli salad}.

i'm a *huge* fan of summer eating. grilling out. fresh fruits and veggies. pitchers of sweet tea. and salads. lots and lots of salads. but i like having a variety of summer salad recipes on hand so i don't get bored with the same ones.

this is a salad my mom used to make when we were growing up. it's so delicious and full of flavor. i love the bright colors, too. very summery. and did i mention super easy? i didn't have a recipe, so i made up my own to recreate the one she used to make. so here you go; hope you like it as much as our family does!

cheese ravioli salad

* 1 lb. cheese ravioli
* 3 plumb tomatoes, cut into chunks
* 1 head of broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces
* 1 clove of garlic, minced
* 2 T. olive oil
* 1 packet good seasons italian dressing, prepared
* 1/4 c. shredded parmesan cheese

- prepare veggies and dressing. heat olive oil in a saute pan, add garlic and cook for a minute. add broccoli pieces and saute until no longer raw, but still crisp and bright green. set aside.

- prepare cheese ravioli according to directions on package. drain.

- combine ravioli, tomatoes and broccoli and toss lightly with dressing. top with parmesan cheese and there you have it. the perfect summer salad.

you can eat this salad warm or cold and it's also equally yummy leftover. it's great as a side with grilled chicken or steak, a dish to bring to a party or potluck, or as a main dish for a lighter dinner. we had ours last night with some baked focaccia bread and it was oh-so-delish.

enjoy!