Contest Winning Picnic Pasta Salad Food

PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to boil and add a generous amount of salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente according to the package directions.
• Meanwhile, prepare the vinaigrette. Zest 1 lemon into a large mixing bowl. Add the juice of both lemons, honey and some salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. While continuing to whisk, slowly pour in the olive oil to emulsify the mixture into a light dressing.
• When the pasta is cooked, drain and immediately pour into the large mixing bowl with the lemon-honey vinaigrette. Toss the pasta with the walnuts, apricots, lemon thyme, mint and radicchio. Gently toss to combine and pour into a serving dish. Serve at room temperature or store, refrigerated, in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

CLASSIC PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Whisk the mayonnaise, parsley, sour cream, chives, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper together in a large bowl.
• Cook the broccoli in the boiling water until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and transfer to a colander. Run under cold water to stop the cooking process. Add the broccoli to the bowl with the dressing.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Three minutes before the pasta is done, add the peas to the pot. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool. Add to the bowl.
• Add the ham, provolone, olives, onion and salami to the bowl and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. The pasta salad is best if served right away.

CONTEST-WINNING PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook spiral pasta and tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Place in a large bowl; add the artichokes, broccoli, provolone cheese, salami, peppers, beans, olives, onion and garlic. , Prepare salad dressing according to package directions; pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.

POLYNESIAN SHRIMP SALAD

Steps:

• Drain the pineapple, reserving 3/4 cup juice and set pineapple aside.
• In a small saucepan, combine the cornstarch, curry powder, salt, pepper, and reserved pineapple juice until smooth.
• Bring to a boil and cook and stir 1 minute or until thickened.
• Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature.
• Stir in mayonnaise and sour cream.
• In a large bowl, combine the shrimp, pasta, water chestnuts, and reserved pineapple.
• Add dressing and toss to coat.
• Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

PICNIC PASTA SALAD -- ONE DISH MEAL

Steps:

• Mix all salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Whisk dressing ingredients together until smooth and well-blended.
• Toss salad ingredients with dressing until well-blended.
• Let sit, refrigerated, at least 4-6 hours, preferably overnight.
• Note: Additional vegetables can be added substituted if desired. Frozen broccoli florets or chopped cucumber are particularly good. But if you add a lot of extra veggies you might need an extra half batch of dressing.
• Note: It is not necessary to thaw the frozen veggies if making it the night before.
• Note: Fresh beans, snapped to size, can be used raw for a crisper texture or they can be blanched and cooled first.