Today I am really craving pasta salad for some reason.  However, I am feeling very lazy.  It is hot outside and I don’t feel like exerting any energy.  I could just go buy some pre-made pasta salad but the only one that will satisfy my craving is a very simple, basic version; nothing fancy.  What to do…. What to do…

Your local grocery store salad bar to the rescue!  Do you ever use the salad bar just purely for convenience?  I do and it is awesome.  I ran to the store and bought a box of noodles and filled up a small salad bar container with the veggies I wanted.  They are washed, dried, and cut into perfect bite sized pieces.  It cost me exactly $3.01 for the veggies and took 7 minutes round trip.  Totally worth it!

All I wanted was broccoli, cauliflower and carrots.  Like I said, I am in the mood for simple. But you are at a salad bar!  If you want add tomatoes, peas, olives, cheese, salami, whatever…

Simple Pasta Salad

serves 2-3 as a main dish, 4-6 as a side

Ingredients:
1/2 of a 12 oz box of Tri-Color Rotini pasta
Desired Veggies
1/2 – 2/3 c Wishbone Italian Dressing
1 1/2 T Mayonnaise (optional)
Salt & Pepper to taste

Cook the noodles in a pot of heavily salted boiling water
Drain and rinse in cold water if you want to cool them immediately (I wanted it right away so I again rinsed my pasta in cold water… usually unthinkable)
In a large mixing bowl combine the noodles and the veggies
Pour in the dressing
Add the mayo- this is optional but I like mine a little creamy
Sprinkle with salt and pepper
Toss until everything is evenly coated
Voila!

I ate mine right away but it might be a good idea to let it chill for about an hour in the fridge.