Emily's Pasta Salad

I like to create recipes for people, especially family. Today's recipe is for my niece, Emily. One day, while at a family gathering, we started talking about salads. Seems every summertime event, I am asked to make potato salad. Emily shared that she liked pasta salad. I told her it was on my list of recipes I wanted to make, and picked her brain about the ingredients she liked. I came up with a great tasting pasta salad, that was given Emily's stamp of approval. I hope it will get your stamp too!

I start with home made Good Season's Salad Dressing Mix. The recipe can be found by clicking on the link.

I mix the dressing ingredients directly into the bowl. I double the amount of seasoning, to bump up the flavor factor. To the bowl add: 1/4 cup vinegar, 3 tablespoons water, 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil and 4 tablespoons Good Season's Italian Seasoning Mix. Just give everything a quick whisk, and set aside.

Tri-color rotini is a must in this recipe. Emily and I decided that part of the reason we like the salad, is because of it's vivid, fun colors. A side note: Pagasa rotini is 1/3 the price of Wacky Mac pasta. Bravo to Wacky Mac for such a cute name, but really, is it worth $2.00, when Pagasa is $.70? Cook the pasta, as directed on the package, being careful not to overcook. The pasta needs to have a bite to it; or aldente.

Drain the pasta, then add to the bowl. Stir pasta with the dressing.

Add the remaining ingredients. Stirring to combine.

EMILY'S PASTA SALAD

SALAD DRESSING:
1/4 Cup vinegar
3 Tablespoons water
1/2 Cup extra virgin olive oil
4 Tablespoons Good Season's Italian Seasoning Mix
PASTA:
1 (12 ounce) Package tri color spiral pasta, cooked according to package directions
MIX INS:
12 Slices salami, quartered
1 (6 ounce) Can extra large olives, pitted
1/4 Cup each: green, red, yellow bell pepper, diced
1 Cup broccoli florets
1 Cup grape tomatoes
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1/2 Teaspoon pepper
8 Ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, diced

DIRECTIONS:
Prepare dressing in a large mixing bowl. Toss in pasta. Add salami, olives, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, salt and pepper; stirring until combined. Gently stir in mozzarella, being careful not to tear the cheese. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.