Thrifty Recipe- Pasta Salad

Photo From http://www.quickitalianrecipes.net/italian-pasta-salad/

In the summer, there is nothing like a cool pasta salad with lunch or dinner. It's relatively easy to make, portable, and can be changed and tweaked to fit your guests. In the past I have bought a ready-made kit, but have realized that it's thriftier and more fun to come up with my own combinations. Here are some suggestions of ingredients and mix-ins, what are some of your favorites?

Pasta Salad Formula: Base + Mix-Ins + Sauce= Pasta Salad

Base: One box of rainbow rotelle or other hefty pasta such as macaroni, cooked until done but still firm. Rinse and allow to drain and cool.

Mix-Ins: There are so many ways you can go here. Some suggestions are below.

• Diced bell pepper
• Diced onion (green or white)
• Pepperoni pieces, quartered
• Cherry tomatoes, halved
• Tomatoes, diced
• Cooked ham, diced
• Peas
• Broccoli
• Olives
• Feta cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Chunks of cooked chicken
• Chopped spinach

Sauce:

• Tomato juice, makes it more of a gazpacho
• Italian salad dressing, here is a recipe if you are interested in making your own
• A combination of sour cream, mayonaise, or plain yogurt for a creamy salad
• Vinegar and oil

Just mix the combination of Base + Mix-Ins + Sauce together, amount of mix-ins and sauce vary based on your taste.

Enjoy!