pasta salad?

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » August 2, 2007 11:00 pm

OK summer is here I have lunch at... 9:30AM

and during the winter soups and stews work..

now? not so much... I have been making Pasta Salads..

and I am running out of ideas for "mix ins"
I have been using Tuna or Ham
Peas.
Grated carrots
olives
mushrooms

any other Ideas?
(I have been eating chicken for dinner so I wanna keep away from that)

pbans · Post by **pbans** » August 2, 2007 11:05 pm

cubes of mozarella cheese, cubes of pepperoni, diced tomatoes,
banana peppers, green peppers, bay shrimp, cucumber.....

pretty much I always just add whatever I have.....

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » August 2, 2007 11:29 pm

pbans wrote:cubes of mozarella cheese, cubes of pepperoni, diced tomatoes,
banana peppers, green peppers, bay shrimp, cucumber.....

pretty much I always just add whatever I have.....

OH some great ideas..

conched · Post by **conched** » August 2, 2007 11:48 pm

artichoke hearts
broccoli,
cauliflower,
red onion,
cherry tomatoes halved,
pine nuts
bacon
canadian bacon
dill
roasted garlic
salmon
basil, tomatoe, parmagiano
reconstitued sun dried tomaotes

try different kinds of pasta like sea shells...

not necessarily all together

island_hopper · Post by **island_hopper** » August 3, 2007 12:00 am

olives
feta cheese
fresh basil
artichoke hearts
finely chopped red onion
sun dried tomatoes

with garlicy balsamic vinegar/olive oil

mmmmmmm

~Hippolyte~ · Post by **~Hippolyte~** » August 3, 2007 12:23 am

conched wrote:bacon

Mmmmm BACON!!!

Tequila Revenge · Post by **Tequila Revenge** » August 3, 2007 12:34 am

conched wrote:artichoke hearts
broccoli,
cauliflower,
red onion,
cherry tomatoes halved,
pine nuts
bacon
canadian bacon
dill
roasted garlic
salmon
basil, tomatoe, parmagiano
reconstitued sun dried tomaotes

try different kinds of pasta like sea shells...

not necessarily all together

YES!!!!

And DO NOT forget the Newman's Itallian Dressing

And mix some more in the nest AM too

Salami, Prochuto, Pepperchinis

pbans · Post by **pbans** » August 3, 2007 12:39 am

Ken's Steak House Italian is good on a pasta salad, too!

there's a raspberry viniagrette that is yummy on a pasta salad with chicken and walnuts in it.....

Tequila Revenge · Post by **Tequila Revenge** » August 3, 2007 12:43 am

pbans wrote:Ken's Steak House Italian is good on a pasta salad, too!

there's a raspberry viniagrette that is yummy on a pasta salad with chicken and walnuts in it.....

Can you buy it outside of Utah?

BTW, Who TF is Ken anyway? Everyone knows Paul

pbans · Post by **pbans** » August 3, 2007 12:59 am

Tequila Revenge wrote:
pbans wrote:Ken's Steak House Italian is good on a pasta salad, too!

there's a raspberry viniagrette that is yummy on a pasta salad with chicken and walnuts in it.....
Can you buy it outside of Utah?

BTW, Who TF is Ken anyway? Everyone knows Paul

My nephews brought me some from California and then I found it right across the street at Target!!!!! I have absolutely NO idea who Ken is, but he makes some damn good dressing.............
Paul's ain't to shabby, either!!

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » August 3, 2007 9:15 am

phjrsaunt · Post by **phjrsaunt** » August 3, 2007 12:27 pm

marinated sun dried tomatoes
FRESH basil
balsamic vinagrette in the dressing

MacPhin · Post by **MacPhin** » August 3, 2007 1:14 pm

Tequila Revenge wrote:
pbans wrote:Ken's Steak House Italian is good on a pasta salad, too!

there's a raspberry viniagrette that is yummy on a pasta salad with chicken and walnuts in it.....
Can you buy it outside of Utah?

BTW, Who TF is Ken anyway? Everyone knows Paul

I believe Ken is Ken from Ken's Steak House on route 9 in Framinham Massachusetts. That place goes way back. His dressings are very popular in the East

buffettbride · Post by **buffettbride** » August 3, 2007 1:22 pm

I make mine with a 1lb bag multi-colored rotini pasta and Newman's Own Olive Oil and Vinegar dressing (and not to be conceited but I make kick-ass pasta salad).

Then, here are my add-ins for various versions:

feta cheese, artichoke hearts, black olives

cheddar cheese, red onion, black olives, multi-colored bell peppers, hormel turkey pepperoni

other add-ins could be grape/cherry tomatoes, celery, bits 'o broccoli, snap peas, jicama, zucchini, etc.

if you don't have issues with salt, hormel turkey pepperoni is a great add-in. it's super low in fat. the regular pepperoni is good, too, but it's higher in fat (but lower in sodium). i guess you can't have your cake and eat it too.

happy noodling!

redwinemaker · Post by **redwinemaker** » August 3, 2007 2:31 pm

Here is my " 'Everything I Ever Wanted in a Pasta Salad' Salad" recipe:

PASTA SALAD

2 lbs Salad Pasta
½ lb Sweet Grape tomatoes, halved or quartered depending on size
1 large or 2 small Maui Sweet onion, diced ¼ “
1 Orange Bell pepper, diced ¼ “
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, diced ¼ “
½ English Cucumber, diced ¼ “
6 oz Kalamata Olives, chopped
½ can or jar cooked artichoke hearts
9 oz. crumbled Feta Cheese
1/3 bunch of Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped coarsely
½ bunch fresh Chives, snipped ¼ “
3 Tbsp. Hot Sweet Mustard
1 cup Low-fat Mayonnaise (More is ok if moister salad is desired)
1 cup Low-fat Sour Cream (More is ok if moister salad is desired)
1 tsp. lemon juice
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ tsp cayenne pepper
Salt
Fresh Ground pepper

Cook pasta in salted water just past al dente, rinse under cold water and drain well. Toss with a little Extra Virgin olive oil. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper. Mix Pasta with all ingredients except tomatoes and cheese, season with salt and pepper in layers as you mix and taste. Fold tomatoes and cheese in last.

Garnish with a little reserved cheese and parsley.

Serves 16-20 people

Corey Sprott
July 4, 2005

STL PARROTHEAD · Post by **STL PARROTHEAD** » August 3, 2007 3:28 pm

redwinemaker wrote:Here is my " 'Everything I Ever Wanted in a Pasta Salad' Salad" recipe:

PASTA SALAD

2 lbs Salad Pasta
½ lb Sweet Grape tomatoes, halved or quartered depending on size
1 large or 2 small Maui Sweet onion, diced ¼ “
1 Orange Bell pepper, diced ¼ “
1 Yellow Bell Pepper, diced ¼ “
½ English Cucumber, diced ¼ “
6 oz Kalamata Olives, chopped
½ can or jar cooked artichoke hearts
9 oz. crumbled Feta Cheese
1/3 bunch of Italian Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped coarsely
½ bunch fresh Chives, snipped ¼ “
3 Tbsp. Hot Sweet Mustard
1 cup Low-fat Mayonnaise (More is ok if moister salad is desired)
1 cup Low-fat Sour Cream (More is ok if moister salad is desired)
1 tsp. lemon juice
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
½ tsp cayenne pepper
Salt
Fresh Ground pepper

Cook pasta in salted water just past al dente, rinse under cold water and drain well. Toss with a little Extra Virgin olive oil. Season tomatoes with salt and pepper. Mix Pasta with all ingredients except tomatoes and cheese, season with salt and pepper in layers as you mix and taste. Fold tomatoes and cheese in last.

Garnish with a little reserved cheese and parsley.

Serves 16-20 people

Corey Sprott
July 4, 2005

Oh that sounds like mine (which I LOVE!!!) but I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and balsamic or red wine vinegar. YUMMY!!!!! and very mediterranean!!!

now I'm hungry...... Ragtop you making this tonite??? I'll get the rum and be over after work!!!

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » August 3, 2007 3:44 pm

Nicole makes one

1 bag of tri colored spiral pasta
Drain water
Add Ranch dressing to the cooked pasta to taste/wetness
use fresh parmesean cheese and grade it and mix in to taste
Add salt, pepper, McCormicks Salad Seasoning to taste

Simple and good

PalmTreeGal · Post by **PalmTreeGal** » August 3, 2007 6:50 pm

My ex-mother in law used to make this fruit pasta salad. It was rotini pasta, cut up fruit (cantaloupe, honeydew, red grapes, blueberries, watermelon) and this sauce that was made with rasberry wine vinegar and poppyseeds. If you're interested, I can try to find the recipe. It was really quite tasty.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » August 3, 2007 10:22 pm

conched wrote:artichoke hearts
broccoli,
cauliflower,
red onion,
cherry tomatoes halved,
pine nuts
bacon
canadian bacon
dill
roasted garlic
salmon
basil, tomatoe, parmagiano
reconstitued sun dried tomaotes

try different kinds of pasta like sea shells...

not necessarily all together

OH some great Ideas..

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » August 3, 2007 10:23 pm

island_hopper wrote:olives
feta cheese
fresh basil
artichoke hearts
finely chopped red onion
sun dried tomatoes

with garlicy balsamic vinegar/olive oil

mmmmmmm

you know I don't leave onions out of too many dishes