Topic Posted by: Gail M
Date Posted: Wed May 7 10:34:40 2008
Additional Comments:
PASTA SALAD!
Big YAY from me. Although it is not something I make very often, I could eat some version of it every day if getting fatter wasn't an issue.
When I was searching for pictures (drooling all the while) I found what looks to me like a really great recipe. The picture was HUGE so I didn't post it. Here's the recipe for it though. Please share any you have - especially is they are simpler than this one. Here is the postage stamp pic of it. Looks very nice too.
1 lb. pasta (shells, farfalle, macaroni, etc.), cooked, drained 1 medium red onion, diced 2 medium green bell peppers, diced 1 cup diced celery 1/2 lb. fresh pea pods, blanched 1 cup sliced mushrooms 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced 1/2 cup sliced radishes 1 cup sliced pitted ripe olives 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Dressing: 1 cup olive oil 1/2 cup wine vinegar 1 teaspoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 2 cloves minced garlic Freshly ground black pepper
Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse under cold running water, and drain again. Prepare dressing by whisking all ingredients together. Stir some of the dressing into the pasta while it is still warm; pour just enough dressing to cause noodles to glisten. Prepare vegetables. Toss into pasta when noodles are lukewarm, adding additional dressing as needed to coat. Sprinkle and stir in Parmesan cheese. Chill until serving time.
Posted by: sugarbee Date posted: Fri May 9 13:57:06 2008
Message:
big yays over here, my whole family loves pasta salad....I make it a lot and try to mix it up and add different things to it, hot or cold, we love it.
The kids grew up calling it "energy" food.....probably one of those things I thought up to make them eat it, LOL
Posted by: Shrila .. . Date posted: Thu May 8 16:08:39 2008
Message:
YAY!
I LOVE PASTA. Just about any kind. I prefer hot pasta, but I do like a good pasta salad!!
Posted by: Velvet Date posted: Thu May 8 16:04:45 2008
Message:
A big YAY for me, although I never make it. I mainly eat it at potlucks and such. I love potato salad but I think pasta salad it is a welcome change now and again.
Posted by: bink Date posted: Wed May 7 23:32:17 2008
Message:
I like pasta salad but have eaten it only a couple of times.
I was part of the test group for "Suddenly Salad" and got sick after eating it. Really sick! They tweaked the recipe (?) after that but still ... aack. Trust me when I say "really sick."
I love the taste, etc. and I think I'll try it again this summer (the homemade version). I'd forgotten all about it believe it or not. I haven't thought about pasta salad in years.
Posted by: Tori Date posted: Wed May 7 22:56:57 2008
Message: I like pasta salad, but only with a mayo dressing. I like to use Suddenly Salad...Bacon Ranch and go creative with adding things. Sometimes I'll make the salad the dinner...add chicken or ham...throw in frozen peas or black olives. Or maybe toss in some pineapple chunks or grapes or cheese ...pecans....whatever I have on hand. I don't think I've ever made it just according to box directions.
Posted by: mags Date posted: Wed May 7 21:17:32 2008
Message:
My answer is almost just like Doopy's - sometimes YAY and sometimes NAY.
Tom doesn't eat any pasta so I make my pasta on the nights he has Rotary.
I usually get pasta salads at salad bars in restaurants. There are a few things in your recipe that I would have to leave out like the peppers, onion, garlic salt (I think that was in there) and the black olives. I guess I like a pasta salad that is pretty plain and a lot of the time it depends on the dressing. BUT I really do like some of them!
Posted by: Doopy Date posted: Wed May 7 20:56:38 2008
Message:
Yay AND Nay.
As you know, I don't do green or red peppers, or raw onions. I can't keep them down. So, if I can find a good mild pasta salad, I'm all in. My faves are in the summer when the fresh tomatoes and cukes are available. I add celery, back olives, frozen peas, dressing, celery seed, a touch of onion powder, and of course, pasta. I also like to add some of the imitation crab meat, or some bacon bits.
Posted by: Kare Date posted: Wed May 7 19:12:27 2008
Message:
This is mine and it's fantastic, if I do say so myself :-ş
Kare's Pasta Salad
1 Box Rotini Pasta 3 Cloves Garlic 1 Brocolli 1 Lg purple onion 1 Red Pepper 1 Green Pepper 1 Cauliflour 1 Lg tomato, chunked
Sauce: 1 C mayo ½C Sugar 4T Vinegar
Boil garlic cloves with pasta + salt + 1T oil. Drain and let cool. Cut vegetables and add to pasta. Mix sauce in separate bowl. Add most to pasta mixture. Reserve rest to add just before serving.
Posted by: SuzyB Date posted: Wed May 7 16:17:46 2008
Message: I like a good pasta salad but rarely make them. Hmmmm I don't know why that is! Your recipe sounds good. When I want pasta salad, I buy one of those Kraft Bacon & Ranch salad mixes. They are yummy.
Posted by: starfish Date posted: Wed May 7 15:43:11 2008
Message: Yes it sounds good, but the cup of oil seems excessive. Also, I've heard that when adding any oil-based dressing to pasta, you should add it AFTER the pasta has cooled. The pasta will absorb less dressing, cutting both fat & calories.
Posted by: Ulalume Date posted: Wed May 7 14:50:30 2008
Message: I love macaroni salad.I usually use the elbo macaroni, green pepper, carrots, onion, sliced black olives, parsley and mayo.
I also make one with the fake crab or shrimp plus shell pasta, cukes, tarragon and mayo.
Looks very nice too. 
