by Betty Jo Hawkins

Created on: May 26, 2009

One of my favorite recipes for those hot summer cookouts is this pasta salad recipe. I make it the night before and serve it chilled. I have made it for birthday parties, work luncheons and every one loves it. If they have had this dish I am often ask to make it for future parties. I simply call it pasta salad. The ingredients are as follows.

The best pasta salad ever!

One box of spiral tri-colored noodles. Cook the pasta according to the directions.

One large cucumber peeled and cut into quarters.

One average size container of cherry tomatoes.

Small package of shredded carrots.

One small packages of sliced peperoni's cut into quarters.

One package of crumbled feta cheese with basil and tomatoes.

One 16 0z bottle of zesty Italian dressing.

As the pasta is cooking peel the cucumbers and cut them into quarters. Cut the peperoni into quarters as well. Once the pasta has finished cooking rinse it under cold water and drain well. Put the cooked pasta into a bowl, ad the cucumbers, carrots, peperoni's, cherry tomatoes and the feta cheese with basil and tomatoes. Then poor in the Italian dressing and mix with a spoon. It is best if it sets over night to allow the dressing to soak into the pasta and veggies. You can also add other ingredients such as olives and onions, but I keep it simple as I do not care for olives or onions.

No matter what else you may add your friends and family will be sure to love this simple recipe at any event. Just make sure to stir it before you serve it. But most of all you will be proud of the dish, it looks very nice. So if you are looking for a different type of salad to take to that special event give this one a try you wont be disappointed and neither will your friends. I can tell you that if you make this dish for any gathering that you may attend your friends and even strangers will want to know who made it. They will be asking you how to make it. This dish will feed may and is easy to double for large crowds. You should print out recipes to share, it will save you time that is how many people will coment on this dish. Even children will like this dish. By all means enjoy and share it with others.

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