Summery Pasta Salad

    We had our first really gorgeous day today. I spent it at a good friend's house celebrating her little boy's second birthday. It was a great place to be as she lives on the water, with a huge deck overlooking Plymouth Harbor. We had your typical birthday fare, cold cut sandwiches, chips, marble cake with fluffy pastel colored frosting, and ice cream. But, the very best part was the pasta salad. Oh, and the Tangueray and Tonics, those are so refreshing on hot days.

But the pasta salad was to-die-for. I skipped breakfast because I knew I would be wanting seconds on it. How did I know this? Well, I helped make it last night, as I sat sipping wine in Jen's kitchen. She put me to work dicing green peppers and after I'd finished, told me my pieces were way too big, so I went back and minced them to about an eighth of an inch square,  and did the same with a medium onion, then grated a few carrots. We threw it all into a big bowl, added the bowtie pasta, 2 cooked boxes of it, then added mayonnaise, a dash of rice vinegar, and some lite poppyseed dressing for a hint of sweetness. We tossed in a box of cooked broccoli spears as well. I mixed it all up, then took a tentative bite and swooned. I couldn't figure it at first, then it hit me. It was the finely diced onions, peppers, and carrots that gave it such an amazing flavor.

This is my new favorite pasta salad, and I think you could play with it, adding other vegetables like mushrooms, or zucchini, and maybe olives or chickpeas for extra texture.  You could make this light too, by using light mayo. The poppyseed dressing we used was light anyway.  Give it a try, and let me know how you like it.

Happy Easter!

:) Pam

Summery Pasta Salad

2 boxes bowtie pasta, cooked.

1 small to medium size green pepper

1 medium yellow onion

2 large carrots, peeled

1 box broccoli spears, cooked and cut lengthwise into smaller pieces

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup lite poppyseed dressing (we used Olde Cape Cod brand)

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

Shred carrots, and dice pepper and onion finely until about 1/8 inch square. Add to a large mixing bowl, and add pasta and broccoli. Stir in mayonnaise, dressing, and rice vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate overnight.

Enjoy!

Comments

[Manic Mom]

YUMMY! I wish you posted a picture. I bet it is beautiful!

Did you get my email? I was trying to get in touch with you regarding Emily Giffin's novel...

[keri]

Hello Missy!!!!!
Spring is here, Nantucket awaits you!!

[cum]

I knew id need these actors were definitely

[yxbicoppu]

miley cyrus boobs

[buy carisoprodol]

I think that salad is very delicious..I will try that at home..thanks for sharing..