Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Pasta Veggie Salad

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is visit the farmers market. There is something so satisfying about walking around enjoying the great weather while supporting the local economy. The colors and smells of being in the market alone bring joy to my heart: from the bright green broccoli, purple eggplant and red tomatoes, to the smell of a peach freshly picked. Mid summer to mid fall that is where I will be once a week, excited to find the wonders that are finally in season, and coming up with new dishes to try with each. This salad is a staple of mine each year. It's great to make up in the morning, before the weather gets too warm, and is chocked full of all those wonderful veggies you just picked up.





 Ingredients:

2 Cups Whole-Wheat Pasta, Cooked
6 Large Cremini Mushrooms, Chopped
1 Cup Chopped Cauliflower
2 Cups Chopped Broccoli
2 Green Onions, Chopped
1/4 Cup Mayonaise
1/2 Cup Light Italian Dressing (I love Newman's)

Directions:

Put pasta and veggies in a large salad bowl. Whisk together the mayonnaise and Italian dressing in a smaller bowl until well mixed. Pour dressing over pasta and veggies and stir until all veggies are coated. Put in the fridge until ready to serve.

This is the recipe for the salad pictured, but feel free to add or omit veggies based on what your tastes are and what is currently in season. Also, if you have carnivores in your home, this salad is also great with grilled chicken, shredded crab or shrimp.