Italian Pasta Salad

 I made an Italian pasta salad recipe for the shelter this morning.  This is a really delicious recipe and I am sure I will be making it again.  I will list what I used in it but you can use all sorts of different ingredients depending on what you have on hand.  I will also give you the portions to make with one pound of pasta.  I made about 5 X this recipe for the shelter. I diced about 4 carrots, 4 stalks of celery and one large cucumber.  Then added 1 can of drained chick peas, 1 can of drained black beans and 1 can of black eyed peas.  Added 1 can of sliced black olives and 1 jar of sliced green olives along with 1 bunch of sliced green onions, 1 cup cubed Provolone cheese and 1/4 pound of sliced salami.

 I made a dressing using 1/2 C. olive oil, 2 T. honey, 3 T. red wine vinegar, 1 clove garlic, 1 tsp. Italian seasoning, S&P to taste and 1/3 C. Parmesan cheese.

 I processed this in my food processor to combine.

 I used Provolone but you could use mozzarella or both.

 Boil and drain 1 pound of pasta.

 Mix to combine then pour the dressing over it and mix until coated.

 Serve it chilled with some good crusty bread.

 Then I made 40+ quarts of my Asian Noodle Salad.  The shelter is holding their annual picnic tomorrow and this was the recipe the guys most requested.  It delighted me to pieces because there are so many fresh vegetables in it.

It delighted me until I had to mix this.  This was made with 10 pounds of linguine, 7 heads of cabbage and tons of onions, peppers and cucumbers.  I could hardly lift it. Then I had to dive in the shower, I was afraid I was going to attract flies!  I was up to my shoulders in soy sauce and sesame oil!