Perfect, Summery Pasta Salad

Today is the 4th of July and as I write this, I imagine so many families grilling burgers and hot dogs, eating apple pie, hanging out by the pool, and looking forward to setting off some fire crackers. We are making it a weekend long affair. We spent time with family yesterday, and will be cooking out again tomorrow. My daughter is currently spending the day with her Nana, who mentioned that she was making pasta salad for dinner tonight. I was reminded that I have had this recipe typed up for quite some time, but never actually got around to finishing the post. So, here I write in a (rare) quiet house on a Sunday afternoon.

When summer rolls around, my crockpot meals become less desirable. I really don’t feel like eating a hot bowl of stew when it’s 90 degrees outside and more humid than a sauna. I want something light. Cue pasta salad. Not only is this cold, which is ideal for a hot day, but the mix of ingredients in this salad bring such a variety of flavors that really make it a perfect summer dish. Fresh tomatoes, bright bell peppers, salty olives, spicy pepperoni, and tangy dressing are the perfect compliment to the cool pasta, and creamy provolone cheese. The flavors work very well together and since I used to eat this all the time growing up, and still make it to this day, I consider it a timeless classic. It works as a meal by itself, or as a side dish to your summer cookouts or parties. The bulk of prep work is chopping, if you don’t buy things pre-cut already, so it’s not too complicated or time consuming. It comes together very quickly, and you can eat it right away. I prefer to chill it for at least an hour so the pasta can soak up some of the dressing, but it’s not mandatory. And not to mention, it’s a very colorful dish, so it looks very pretty in a bowl. Pasta salad is something you can make your own – leave out some ingredients if you don’t like them all and add some other things you do like. It’s a great dish to customize for you and your family so that everyone can enjoy some of this perfect summer meal.

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Pasta Salad
Serves 8
Prep time: 20 min
Chill time: 1 hour

• 1 lb rotini pasta, cooked and cooled
• 1 c sliced black olives
• 1 c diced green bell pepper
• 1/4 c diced red onion
• 1 c diced provolone cheese
• 1 c diced pepperoni
• 1 c diced roma tomatoes
• 1/2 c olive oil
• 1 c red wine vinegar
• 3 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp parsley

1. Make the dressing by adding Dijon, red wine vinegar, and parsley to a medium sized mixing bowl and whisk together. Slowly pour in the olive oil, while whisking constantly to create an emulsion.
2. Combine cooled pasta, other ingredients, and the dressing in a large bowl and mix well.
3. Chill for at least one hour, and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.