Tuesday, July 7, 2009

My favorite pasta salad

Everyone has their own favorite recipe for pasta salad, and this is one that I came up with years ago and honed until I felt I’d gotten it right.

It doesn’t have a lot of ingredients and most of them are already in your cupboard or frig. It hits the spot on a warm day and satisfies with its cool delishishness. Is that a word?

I made this over the weekend and didn’t take “how-to” photos, but here’s the recipe.

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Simple Pasta Salad

16 oz. two or three different pasta shapes (I used fusilli, cellantani, and a little florette that I forget the name of)

1 pkg. Good Seasons dry Italian Dressing Mix

Med. cucumber, pared, cut in half lengthwise and sliced

1 1/2 cups sliced bell peppers (I used red, yellow & orange)

1/4 to 1/2 cup shredded carrot

1/2 to 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup vidalia onion, diced

1/8 to 1/4 cup Italian Dressing (I used Good Seasons Italian)

1 to 2 Tbsp. McCormick’s Salad Supreme

Pepper

DIRECTIONS: Cook pasta according to instructions (remember that some may have different cooking times). Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Drain completely.

Pour cooled pasta into large bowl and sprinkle with entire packet of Good Seasons Italian Dressing Mix. Stir until combined. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.

Slice and chop all vegetables (you can use any others you like but I’ve always liked this combination) and add to pasta. Pour dressing over and stir with large spoon. Add pepper and Salad Supreme to taste.

Sometimes I add a small package of cooked and drained tortellini. I didn’t have any today, though. And it helps if you let it sit again in the frig for awhile (an hour or more) before serving. Enjoy!

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And now a soothing beach scene for you. I took this last winter. Does it make it look any cooler? It’s the beach at Cape Henlopen State Park in nearby Delaware.

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And now some questions for you . . .

1. When was the last time you held hands with someone?

2. What one thing says “summer” to you more than any other?

3. Do you wear sunscreen? Do you wear it every day or just when you’re at the beach?

4. How often do you look at the time, either on a watch or other timepiece?

5. What tv show have you seen every episode of?

See you in the comments. Until then, my friends . . .

44 comments:

Country Girl said...

1. Last October.
2. Being at the ocean.
3. Yes, when I'm going to be in the sun for long periods.
4. I don't wear a watch but I like knowing what time it is.
5. I'd have to say 'Friends'.

~ C.G.

Sarah said...

Oh fun!
1. Yesterday. I'm hugely preggers and my husband balances me.
2.Iced sweet tea
3. Just when I know I'll be out in the sun for awhile.
4. I wear a watch and look at it somewhat frequently.
5. Ghost Hunters

BTW-pasta salad looks awesome! So you use a dry dressing AND a bottle dressing? Maybe I misunderstood...

tj said...

...This looks totally yummo - thanks for sharing! :o)

...You know I looked at that beach photo and thought summer and warm breezes and after you stated it was a winter photo I looked back up at it again and it still felt like summer...weird. :oP

...Anyway,
1. Independence Day 2009
2. Homegrown tomatoes right off the vine
3. Never
4. Quite often - I'm very conscientious of the time
5. Friends

...Blessings Miss Kate... :o)

Hilary said...

Yummy. Looks great!

1.Yesterday.
2.fireflies/lightning bugs
3. I never wear sunscreen, and I am a very bad girl.
4. Almost never. I don't care what time it is!!!
5. Everybody Loves Raymond....and I do too.

A Scattering said...

mmmmm....looks good, will have to try it.

1. April, walking with my niece
2. seeing dragonflies
3. like Kate: when in the sun for long periods, beach, golf etc.
4. half a dozen times aday
5. Monarch of the Glen (a BBC Scotland show which was carried by PBS)

Anonymous said...

I love the photographs, as always.
1. mmmmm. Juneish.
2. Going to New York!
3. Beach, and when working in the summer sun.
4. Cell Phone, Laptop, Bedside digital clock, school tv, etc.
5. Smallville, Jericho, House, The Unit, 4400!

May I repost your survey?

susie said...

1. yesterday
2. baby horses, kittens (but I didn't have any babies this year)
3. sometimes
4. no watch, and I don't check very often.
5. NCIS, Friends, Numbers. I'm working on Criminal Minds now.

I read your blog everyday, just to see what you've taken pictures of now.

msdewberry said...

1. With my hubby just yesterday!
2. Cherries!
3. Here I am bad. I don't wear it and just yesterday I might of prevented the burn on my shoulders if I had.
4.I wear a watch at work and have to check it often to record work related info and also so I can see how much longer I have to stay at work, and when I can go.
5.Ghost Whisperer. Love that show.

Anonymous said...

Oh, whew... saw the title of your post and wondered if your pasta salad would be the same as mine that I will be posting this week. Yours is quite different than mine so will surely give yours a try, Kate.

1. Last week
2. Lemonade!
3. Only when beaching it... I know, My bad!
4. I wear a watch most of the time and look at it waaaay too often.
5. Dallas (showing my age on this one)

Jo Whitehurst said...

Mmmm! Pasta Salad looks and sounds yummy!

1. Last week.
2. Strawberry Shortcake
3. Not often enough!
4. I check the time at work several times a day in order to stay on schedule.
5. Monk

Andrea said...

Great recipe - I do one similar - there's something about the cucumbers and tomatoes mixed with the pasta that just screams summer!

1. Saturday - with my grandson!
2. Blueberries - I can't get enough of them!
3. I wear it everyday on my face only.
4. Once or twice in the morning; same for the afternoon and evening.
5. Oh no, I don't know - probably all those old ones on TV Land!

Flea said...

I love your questions. :) And the pasta salad looks yummy.

1. When was the last time you held hands with someone?
My Hunny, sometime in the last couple of weeks. Wait. No. I held my grandmother's hand while I walked to her last week.

2. What one thing says “summer” to you more than any other?
Road Trip!!!

3. Do you wear sunscreen? Do you wear it every day or just when you’re at the beach?
Only if I know I'm going to be outside for awhile, and only if I remember.

4. How often do you look at the time, either on a watch or other timepiece?
Don't wear a watch, but pretty frequently.

5. What tv show have you seen every episode of?
Star Gate SG, all the way through season 7.

Donna S. said...

1. A couple of days ago w/hubby & grandkids.
2. Trip to the beach.
3. When going to be in sun for a while.
4. I try not to look as often as I used to but I usually know about what time it is.
5. Everybody Loves Raymond (& Seinfeld because of hubby).

Anonymous said...

1. Last week - before my husband left.

2. The feel of grass under barefeet.

3. Mostly at the beach. My daily moisturiser has SFP 15 though.

4. All the time!

5. Friends. And I love watching reruns of it.

Jan said...

1. Yesterday, at the Dodger game.
2. The ocean.
3. On my face every day, almost never anywhere else.
4. Depends on the day, from 4 to 10 times.
5. None - I seldom watch, too many books, so little time.

Reddirt Woman said...

That pasta salad looks soooo good and so refreshing.

As to your questions...


1. Other than in friendship? A long time.
2. Wanting to be at the ocean. Otherwise, wonderful sunshine and flowers.
3. When I'm first getting into summer or when I'm going to be out longer than I know I should.
4. I was laughing about this last night. In my jewelry I have 5 watches I love. Not a one of them has a good battery right now.
5. Mash

Helen

abb said...

This June.

Ice cold watermelon...or corn on the cob...or fresh summer tomatoes...well, the food treats of summer pretty much sums it up!

Sometimes, but not always, and I should.

When at work, often. When at play (that's whenever I'm not at work) as little as possible.

Northern Exposure.

See you in a few...days!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

I hold hands with my husband every night as we go to sleep.

Fresh garden veggies

On my face...always forget the rest.

A dozen times or more....the date is on my clock and I always look at it as I check in campers.

Every single episode? Maybe, The Waltons. I think.

Pasta salad will be tried out this weekend. I am always looking for do ahead things on the weekend, so thanks for the recipe.

Anonymous said...

I love pasta, thanks for sharing that recipe with us.

1. last Night.
2. Iced Tea and Phil.Halo-halo.
3. When I'm at the beach.
4. I sould say more often.
5. Ghost whisperer.

Have a nice day miss Kate...
I hope to see you in my blog too..

-alvond

Sarah Anne said...

1. On Friday, walking through the fair with my daddy.

2. Lilac trees blossoming, because that means that summer will be at my house in a month.

3. I have to wear it every day. Sensitive skin, ghost white, et cetera et cetera.

4. Not frequently, but I'm never late.

5. None that I know of-close with The Waltons and possibly close with M*A*S*H.

Sweetpea said...

Heh CG, I'm not sure why I like to respond to your questions - I usually don't do that too much on blogging - but there's something about your questions that strike a chord....so here's me responses :>}}

1. This past 4th of July night. I grabbed and held on.
2. The smell of the sea on a warm evening.
3. Yes, face only, every day.
4. Whenever the need strikes me. Opposite to many others, I wear a watch (feel naked without it) & love to wear a watch & love to know the time & am always mightily amused when those who *refuse* to wear a timepiece ask me what time it is. If I'm feeling surly I respond to that question with, "Time for you to get a watch".
5. None. But I've come very close with "Northern Exposure" and a TV series from Australia (on Netflix) called "McLeod's Daughters".

YUM on the pasta salad!

Hilary said...

Great shot.. it looks like it's a magazine page. :)

1) This past weekend
2) The smell of freshly-cut grass.
3) Only if I'm going to be baking.
4) About 3 or 4 times a day.
5) Probably Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond and The Office. And the one I'm embarrassed to admit.. Trailer Park Boys. It's a Canadian thing. ;)

Country Girl said...

I am having so much fun reading your comments. They make me smile!
So many different answers! This is great. And Hilary, Trailer Park Boys? Oh, my.

~ C.G.

Jill of All Trades said...

Salad looks very, very yummy...

1. The last time I held hands with someone was last night in bed with The Hubby just before dozing off.
2. Summer, fresh off the vine, still warm tomatoes.
3. I wear sunscreen on my face every day. I don't put it on my shoulders or arms unless I know the top is going down.
4. I look at the time probably 3-5 times a day.
5. I have seen every episode of Charmed, Angel, The Waltons, Fraiser, Two and a Half Men, Mash...I could go on.

maillady said...

1. yesterday , my grandsons , we were at the mall.
2. my first tripto the beach as soon as it gets a little warm @ may.
3.yes , only on my face during the winter and then always all over at the beach.
4. i don't wear a watch , however i do look at my cell phone for the time alot.
5. i don't think i have ever seen every show of anything. well maybe brothers and sisters. it's so my family. haha

Mary said...

1. Sunday
2. fireflies
3. every day -- it's in my moisturizer
4. constantly looking at time on my cell phone, in the car, or digital readouts on cable box, microwave, range, etc.
5. House, because my daughter and my husband love it and watch every syndicated episode over and over...

Oh, and the pasta salad is making me drool. Yum! :)

Mental P Mama said...

1. Yikes. I have absolutely no idea...a few weeks?
2. The smell of a coming rainstorm.
3. 24/7
4. About once an hour.
5. Leave it to Beaver. sigh

Daryl said...

The gull looks chilly ...

1. Sunday nite when we were watching TV

2. Husband getting the tall fans out in anticipation of stalling installing the AC

3. Every single day ... rain or shine ...

4. Almost never ... I have this internal clock that is extremely accurate

5. The Closer .. it rocks!

Deb said...

Your pasta recipe sounds fab! I will try it. Now, to answer some of your questions...
1. the other day at the movies.
2. picnics
3. everyday
4. I don't wear a watch anymore, but use my cell phone to access the time.
5. hmmm...honestly, I don't think I've seen every episode of my favorite shows. even with the advent of tivo...it's just not that important, really.

Gayle said...

1. awwwww, last night
2. a summer breeze in the tops of the lodgepole pines that is heading my way.
3. every day, on my face
4. rarely, but if I have a lunch date, pedicure or haircut scheduled....then often. :)
5. Grey's Anatomy

I soooo love the misty, dreamy, pinkly photo of the begonia, such a grand rendition! Wow. Thanks for your wonderful blog.

Tess Kincaid said...

Oh, that salad looks good. Is it time for lunch?

imom said...

1. Yesterday
2. Wearing Capris and going sockless!
3. I rarely wear sunscreen, I avoid the sun. But if I know I can't avoid it, I do wear sunscreen.
4. Not too often, unless I have to pick up one of my kids.
5. Sopranos and Seinfeld

That salad looks tasty and easy to make! Thanks for sharing.

The Weaver of Grass said...

1. Every time I go out with my husband, so today.
2. The smell of new mown hay.
3. Rarely.
4. My watch battery needs replacing so not as often as usual - although or lunch is always at 12.30 so I look around that time.
5 Have I got news for you - but I don't think you get it in US

Joan S said...

Pasta salad looks so good!!

1. Yesterday
2. Long hours of daylight
3. Not unless I'm at the beach
4. Don't wear watch, but notice time from other things several times a day.
5. Lost

Char said...

love the new banner! the shots are just gorgeous. and the salad looks so delish. I love using good seasonings for a lot of things. Now on to the answers:

1. Last week and it was my niece - we held hands crossing the street.

2. Fresh produce.

3. At the beach or if I'm outdoors for an extended period.

4. Now that I'm not working, rarely - I never wear a watch but I do glance at my cell phone when I need the time.

5. Sex and the City - I own all of them on DVD too.

Donalyn said...

Love the salad Kate - looks like it has a huge pop of flavor. Putting it on my list to try. Stop saying you can't cook, ok? ;)

1.With Larry this past weekend as we were walking around the garden. Before that it was with Miss Anna Banana [granddaughter] the weekend before.

2.Sitting on the porch with a glass of wine before dinner.

3. In theory I wear sunscreen. I have sunscreen. But, in reality I usually remember it about an hour too late.

4.I don't wear a watch. If I have to be somewhere, I make sure to be on time. If I don't have specific time constraints, I go hours without looking at a clock. Not having to be aware of the time is freedom to me.

5. Star Treks. All of them. We are working through Battlestar Gallactica now. I want to kiss the person who invented Netflix.

GailO said...

Yummy looking salad!

1. Monday when babysitting the grandchildren...lots of hand-holding:)
2. Heat and Humidity...still doesn't feel like summer here this year!
3. Every day on my face and whenever I think I'm going to be in the sun for long everywhere else...have only needed it once this year so far ...too much rain!
4. I haven't worn a watch since I quit work but I always seem to know what time it is...
5. Northern Exposure, Arrested Development, The Office, ER, Lost(I know, I know) too many really...

Woman in a Window said...

1. Held hands last night. 2. Shorts. Damned shorts. (Not a fan of my exposed legs.) 3. I wear sunscreen when it's too late. 4. Lately I don't know which end is up or what time it is...ever...except when it might be close to the kid's bedtime 5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer...to date. Still have two seasons to go.

Tami Weingartner said...

Better let then never...

1. With my two year old neice yesterday on a walk through the yard.

2. Lightening Bugs!

3. Sun Screen most days...I'm outside in the sun a lot due to the nursery.

4. No watch...no clocks in house...no clocks at the office. We work until we are done. Eat when we are hungry. Go to bed when were tired. Of course the computer has a clock on the bottem right corner and the cell phone shows the time when it rings. So we are not totally timeless!

5. The TV doesn't get any channels but we do have a DVD player so have Netflix. We recently finished up McLeod's Daughters...so I know I've seen all episodes of that. And I would say I've also see all episodes of Monarch of the Glen too.

This was fun...I enjoyed reading everyones answers.

Laura J. Wellner (author pseudonym Laura J. W. Ryan) said...

1. Yesterday...I'll have to make a point to do it again today.

2. Hearing the Baltimore Oriole singing at the top of our big maple tree in the front yard.

3. Yes, but not often enough, it's very cloudy here this year.

4. I stopped wearing a watch years ago. I usually guess the time, and occasionally I'm surprised when I'm wrong (or I'm cussing because it feels earlier/later than it really is!)

5. "Firefly"...it was a short lived series, so maybe that doesn't count...it's possible that I've seen all episodes of "As Time Goes By" on PBS...

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

Am I too late? I'm going to do it anyway. Just ignore me if you like :)
1. Hubby and I hold hands constantly, when we are walking, sitting beside each other or even drifting off to sleep. 2. Watermelon 3. No, but I should, because I'm on some meds that make me burn. I just wear a large hat. it's pink and very pretty, hubby got it for me at Sea World when we were celebrating our 30th anniversary. 5. Alias. And we are working on Gilmore Girls, thanks to Netflix.

Rosezilla (Tracie Walker) said...

Well, the fact that I missed 4 altogether should tip you off - what's the use in looking at the time when I can't even count to 4, lol? I don't care what time it is. I'm lucky if I know what day it is.

Michelle said...

1) Sometime this week.
2) Vegetable gardens
3) Yes, Oil of Olay on my face every day. (The rest of me only when it's going to be exposed for an hour or more.)
4) Several times a day.
5) EVERY SINGLE EPISODE? You've got to be kidding. None.

Auds at Barking Mad said...

YUM!!!!!! Going to deffo try this when I get back from Blog Fest!

1> Yesterday.

2> Salty sea-air carried in on a late afternoon warm breeze.

3> I'm wicked naughty. I SHOULD wear it every bloomin' day, yet I usually only wear it whilst at the beach, or slather it on my face if I'm going to be out mucking about in the garden.

4> Quite depends on what I'm doing. I hadn't really given much thought to it until I saw this. Perhaps, now that I have thought about it, I check the time once every few hours.

5> This is really embarrasing to admit, but Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Little House on the Prairie. Oh and Whale Wars.

I'm just chuffed to bits to sit here and wile away the wee hours on your blog. Love it!