maleficent

For a pasta salad, I've got many different recipes, the old stand by -
is a basic veggie pasta salad, that you can tweak to your own liking

1 lb pasta - cooked and drained (I like rotini, but any kind of pasta will do)
1 8 oz. Italian dressong (I am partial to paul newmans when I am being lazy otherwwise, I will make my own)
2 medium cucumbers, diced
3 medium tomatoes, diced
2 small, or 1 large red onion , diced
2 medium green peppers, diced
1 small can of ripe olives, halved

Then I'll add in a some fresh basil if I can get it otherwise, some dried basil, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper.. or whatever herbs strike my fancy.

Combine all ingredients and marinate overnight.


It's not really pasta -but it is a starch.. .one of my alltime favorite salad is Panzanella..
1 largish day-old crusty peasant-style whole-grain bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 6 cups)
2 large tomatoes (about 1 pound), trimmed and each cut into 8 wedges
1 large cucumber, diced large (I like the english cukes)
1 red onion, diced large
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
10 fresh basil leaves, shredded

In a serving bowl stir together the bread, the tomatoes, the cucumber, the onion, the oil, the vinegar, the basil, and salt and pepper to taste until the salad is combined well.

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