Cold Summer Salads

When the hot weather hits (and it has) the last thing I want to do is eat anything cooked or cook. The solution: cool summer salads-which, also help with getting into swimsuit shape. That and a vigorous spinning workout which I am now totally committed to...Baywatch Beware! Tonight I'm going to whip up this Lemon-Basil Shrimp Salad with a grilled Baguette and a refreshing Riesling. You can find this and other fabulous salad ideas at http://www.southernliving.com/ under "21 Cool Summer Salads." Southern Living cracks me up...it's so overdone, but adorable too.

Lemon-Basil Shrimp Salad

6 servings

3 lbs cooked shrimp-peeled and deveined

1 large red onion, thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced

Fresh cheese tortellini, cooked and cooled (I added this)

16 cups salad greens

Dressing

1/2 cup fresh basil, finely chopped

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 tsp dijon mustard

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 large garlic clove, pressed

1/2 cup olive oil

Whisk together first 5 dressing ingredients. Gradually add oil in a steady slow stream, whisking until blended. Toss with the greens and veggies, place shrimp and tortellini on top.