Summer Picnic Pasta Salad Food

SUMMER PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Tear corner of Ready Pasta pouch to vent, then microwave for one minute.
• Cut tomatoes in half and combine with pasta, adding in Italian dressing and basil.
• Season with salt and pepper and top with cheese.

THE PERFECT PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, salt, sugar, and cayenne together in a large bowl for about 30 seconds. Whisk in olive oil in 1-teaspoon increments until emulsified. Whisk in tarragon, dill, parsley, chives, and thyme. Remove and reserve 1/2 of the dressing in a separate small bowl.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Add snow peas, carrots, peas, and broccoli about 2 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain pasta and veggies well, but do not rinse.
• Transfer hot pasta mixture to the vinaigrette in the large mixing bowl and toss well to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes and toss again. Toss occasionally until the mixture is almost room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, green onions, salt, and the reserved dressing and toss well.
• Wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before serving. Toss and adjust seasoning before serving.

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.

SUMMER PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Blanch broccoli and asparagus in boiling salted water, and plunge into ice bath to stop cooking.
• Cook pasta until al dente.
• Rinse with cold water and drain.
• Toss pasta with chopped vegetables.
• Mix first 5 ingredients of dressing, and slowly whisk in oil.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss dressing with pasta and vegetables.
• Chill until ready to serve.

SUMMER PICNIC MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Drain the macaroni.
• Pour a mixture of 3 tablespoons vinegar and 2 tablespoons sugar over the drained (still in the colander) macaroni.
• Drain the macaroni (again).
• In a large bowl mix salad macaroni, peas, baby gherkins, celery, sweet onion, tuna, cubed cheese.
• Dressing: Take the mayo, sugar, some vinegar, salt and pepper to taste; mix into the macaroni mixture. You may want to add more dressing.
• This is a very forgiving salad. You can sub salad shrimp, ham or chicken for the tuna or ditch the meat/fish and add some grated carrots (if using carrots you might want to cut back on the sweet pickles), diced zucchini and diced red peppers.
• Chill, check the dressing and enjoy.