Italian flags (tomato and mozzarella salad)

Dietitian's tip:

If you can't find cherry-sized mozzarella balls, any fresh mozzarella (packed in water or whey) will work.

Ingredients

1. 8 ounces fresh mozzarella (about 10 cherry-sized balls)
2. 8 ounces grape or cherry tomatoes (about 15 tomatoes)
3. 10 large fresh basil leaves
4. 10 party picks or any long toothpicks
5. Balsamic vinegar (optional)

Directions

Cut each mozzarella ball in half. Set aside. Then cut the tomatoes in half and set them aside. Tear each basil leaf into 3 or 4 pieces.

Stick the sharp end of a pick through one basil leaf. Then add a tomato half to the pick. After that, add half a mozzarella ball. Repeat by adding another tomato half, followed by another mozzarella half and finish with one more tomato half. Fill 9 more picks in this way.

Drizzle with a little balsamic vinegar and serve.

This recipe is one of 50 collected in "The Mayo Clinic Kids' Cookbook," published by Good Books.