Summer Pasta Salad

Summer by far has the best available ingredients in my opinion. It’s all about cooking using fresh ingredients and grilling outside (Right!? Wish I ate like that all summer). However, it can be somewhat of a struggle just to eat healthy or enjoy eating outdoors. Remember to treat yourselves, especially when we’re blessed with such beautiful weather!

This weekend we celebrated our Godson’s 3^rd birthday, I made my sister a pasta salad for the gathering, and it happens to be one of my favorites. The freshness of all the veggie ingredients makes it light yet satisfying. An Aunt of mine introduced me to this recipe and traditionally all the veggies were sliced length wise and included black olives. However, I’m a sucker for bite size pieces so I chopped the ingredients a little smaller and choose to omit the black olives this time.

RECIPE:

 1 pk. Bow Tie Pasta
Italian Dressing or favorite Vinaigrette

1 Green Bell pepper

1 Red Bell pepper

1/4 sliced red onion

3 Cucumber (quartered)

2 Small Broccoli heads
1 case Cherry Tomatoes

Pepper (to taste)

Black Olives (optional)

Tips: Sprinkle Crumbed Feta Cheese (Tastes YUMMY!)

Ingredients

1. Fill up a large pot with water and set to boil.
2. Wash all the veggies! Quarter cucumbers, cut small broccoli florets, thinly slice red onion, and chop bell peppers into small cubes.
3. As water comes to a boil add salt to the pot.
4. Add the pasta and cook according to package. (remember to add the broccoli for the last minute)Drain both pasta and broccoli. Set aside to cool.

5. Once pasta is cool enough, add all veggies, coat with salad with enough dressing, season with black pepper, and mix to combine all ingredients. (Keep in mind salad will absorb dressing quickly & its fine to add more)


Pasta with veggies (Hasn't been mixed)




Serve and Enjoy or store in a refrigerator for later use!!!

** Italian Dressing can be easily substituted for a red wine vinaigrette... play around with it and see what works for you. :-)

(Double or even Triple the recipe for Parties)