Summer Pasta Salad

Around here, Summer seems to be the time for potlucks. Here is my go-to dish for all those Summer parties. Trust me, this is about the easiest thing you can make!

Here is what I use. A package of tri-color rotini, a bottle of Italian dressing (I find that Wishbone has the best flavor), a red onion, some tomatoes (I prefer cherry tomatoes but Roma are so much less expensive), black olives, pepperoni, cheese (feta or shredded Parmesan - not the shaker type) and cucumbers (not pictured).

Cook your noodles according to package directions. Rinse with COLD water until the noodles are actually cool.

Thinly slice the red onion.

Seed and chop the cucumber. I peel and halve it first.

Then halve it again lengthwise.

Then slice off the layer of seeds.

Viola.

Slice again lengthwise...

...cut into about 1/4 inch pieces.

If you're using cherry tomatoes, either halve or quarter them. Grape tomatoes I usually halve and roma tomatoes I dice into about 1/4 inch pieces.

Pepperoni...I am not a huge fan but it does give this salad great flavor. I've done it meatless and also used grilled chicken, diced ham or salami.

I like the vacuum package because I can cut it right in the package.

I peel the slices of pepperoni apart and add it to your bowl with all the other ingredients. I forgot to take a picture here of how I cut the olives but really, you can do what you like. I quarter them lengthwise, you can slice them or leave them whole...it really doesn't matter.

Add about 3/4 your bottle of dressing and mix well.

Add about 3/4 of your cheese and mix again. I like to let this sit overnight but really it only needs an hour or so. Right before serving, add the rest of your dressing to give it more "squish" and sprinkle remaining cheese over top of salad.

This really is a hit and so easy to make. I love that you can vary the recipe according to your taste. This would also be great with cubed ham, peas and cheddar cheese...hmmm. What other variations would you try? Do you have any go-to recipies like this? Share in the comments below!

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