Patriotic Salad Kebab Appetizer for 4th of July Celebrations

Impress your guests with tasty patriotic appetizers. Do the preparation the day before so you have time to enjoy the celebration, too. Add this colorful plate to a table with a patriotic centerpiece and your guests will be saying, "Ooooh" and "Ahhh" before the fireworks ever start.

Patriotic Salad Kebabs with Fresh Mozzarella, Cherry Tomatoes, and Olives

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. container of fresh mozzarella balls

• 1 box of cherry or grape tomatoes

• 1 small jar or can of Kalamata Olives (the purple ones)

• Olive oil

• Fresh basil leaves

• Ground sea salt

• Wooden kebab skewers

• Cocktail picks with your choice of design - use ones with a frill or a flag to add color to your creation

Wash and dry tomatoes.

Drain the mozzarella balls and gently pat dry with a paper towel.

Drain the olives.

Put one tomato on the wooden skewer, leaving room at the end for your guests to pick it up.

Alternate mozzarella balls with tomatoes until you have about 8 pieces on the skewer.

Finish with an olive.

Repeat until you've used all the tomatoes and mozzarella balls.

Put cocktail picks in the remaining olives and arrange at the top of the kebab sticks to add a patriotic edge to the plate.

For a simple dressing to add flavor to the mozzarella and tomatoes, wash the basil leaves, chop, and add to 1/4 cup olive oil. The basil gets distributed more evenly if mixed with the olive oil, but can also be sprinkled on. Mix well and drizzle over everything on the plate. Add salt to taste. Remember that fresh mozzarella isn't salted and will need a little, even if you're watching your salt intake.