Lindas Healthy Filling Pasta Salad Recipes

LINDA'S PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to box directions, drain and let cool (do not overcook pasta, or salad will be mushy). Refrigerate.
• Meanwhile, slice and dice all veggies, and put in a big bowl. Refrigerate.
• When all is chilled mix veggies in with pasta, and add salad dressing, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix all well.
• *Save some of the salad dressing to pour on just before serving. When it's time to serve you can add more salad dressing, if you like more. The pasta has a tendency to soak up salad dressing as it marinates, so I save some to add right at serving time.
• Variations:.
• Use kalamata, or green olives instead of black.
• Add little corn ears.
• Add your favorite cheese, any hard, American or Feta.
• Add cheese and diced pepperoni, or hard salami.
• Add frozen green peas, thawed.
• Add radishes, diced, or sliced.

LINDA'S (HEALTHY & FILLING) PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Boil pasta until el dente'. Rinse in cold water and place in a large salad bowl.
• 2. Clean and separate broccoli and cauliflower flowerettes. Boil a pot of water - turn off and place vegetables in hot water to BLANCH. (approx. 3 min). They should brighten in color, but still be crisp. Repeat with carrots.
• 3. Add blanched vegetables to bowl of pasta.
• 4. Add chopped tomato, sliced jalapenos and olives to pasta bowl. (You may use black or green olives). I prefer small green olives stuffed with pimentos. Mix thoroughly.
• 5. Cut cheddar cheese into small cubes and add along with 3 T. of fresh parmesan. Add the Caesar Italian salad dressing and blend into pasta and vegetable mixture thoroughly. I have also used fat free Zesta Italian dressing before. If you like a creamier salad you could also add 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, but remember the POINTS value will change if you do. Refrigerate overnight covered.
• 6. If you want your salad hotter/spicier, leave seeds and veins in jalapenos.