In the Kitchen... Pasta Salad

The possibilities are endless... really they are.

This really might be the most versatile recipe that I have in my arsenal. You could add so many things and it would still be awesome. Like black olives, chopped ham, turkey, or pepperoni, or bacon, red bell pepper, cucumber, pecans or walnuts or any other nut... and on and on and on. You are only limited by your imagination. If you have an aversion to onion... you could leave it out... I guess.

We like it plain... and TDodds likes to eat it with saltines. Yes. Saltines.

This is a wonderful summer recipe... but I make it year round... because it's that good.

I feel like I'm trying to sell you something... is it working?

Pasta Salad

1 lb. (16 ozs) short cut pasta of your choice (I like to use whole wheat rotini, because I like the taste and it makes me feel like maybe it's a bit more healthy. Maybe not.)

1 very diced green bell pepper

1 very diced red onion (if a regular ole' onion is all you have on hand... only use half)

1 cup Italian salad dressing

1 cup Caesar salad dressing

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (to freshly grate is to freshly taste :) but the kind from the bag works just fine.)

Pepper to taste

Cook your pasta according to package directions. While it's cooking, chop your veggies. The smaller the pieces... the better (in my opinion). In a large bowl combine all of your ingredients besides the pasta. It should look something like this... and yes... I started snacking on the concoction with saltines. It was good. Really good. I think I really might use it sometime as a dip.

After the pasta is al dente... drain and rinse with cold water. You want the pasta to be cool before you add it to your bowl of mush.

After you have drained and rinsed... add the pasta to your bowl of other ingredients and combine. This is your finished product! You can eat it immediately... with saltines... or cover and put it in the fridge. To see a more simplified version of this recipe please visit Tried and True Recipe Share!!

Oh and what's that plastic cup with Sharpie writing for back there you ask?? That's our "coffee water dipper" of course. Doesn't everyone have one of these? It's mainly because we are coffee snobs... I mean lovers. We do not use the coffee carafe to fill up the coffee pot to make coffee. Because of course that would taint the water. Hence the "coffee water dipper." Invented by TDodds. We really should get a patent.
Have a fabulous weekend!!

Love you all!

Bails