Tasty Pasta Salad

Growing up anytime there was a pool party or picnic or any type of summer function my mom would always make pasta salad. This dish is so nostalgic but also fun and easy to make. We are also doing a recipe for our own Italian dressing but you can use store bought if that is easier for you but our recipe can be made at any time or day and sit in the fridge for up to a week. Okay, now let’s stop talking about it and get to it!

Ingredients:

Dressing–

• 1/2 cup Avocado Oil
• 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Oil
• 8 Tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar
  • We prefer to use apple cider vinegar because it’s a more cost efficient option. Where we would need to buy a more expensive bottle of red wine vinegar to get a taste that is not just sour and bitter we can buy a less expensive apple cider vinegar and it adds a nice hint of apples.
• 2 Tbsp of finely chopped parsley
• 4 Tbsp dried Italian seasoning
• 1 Clove of Garlic
• 2 Tbsp of Lemon Juice
  • About one lemon. Fun Fact: if you roll a lemon on the counter prior to cutting it and you will get more juice.
• 1 Tsp of Raw Organic Honey
  • This will add some richness and sweetness to the dressing. You can also use syrup or sugar we just like the nutrition of honey better. .
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Salad-

• 2 cups of Pasta
  • We highly suggest you give GoGo Quinoa chickpea pasta a try. It is gluten-free, 100% organic, 13g of protein, 7g of fiber, and 25% of your daily iron intake.
• 1/2 of Red Onion
• 1/2 Red Bell Pepper
• 1/2 Green Bell Pepper
• 1 Cup of Fresh Spinach
• 1 cup of Sliced Mushrooms
• 1/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese
  • We love Thrive Market Vegan Parmesan style grated cheese. It’s gluten free non-gmo and soy free. Yes, we know the scientific ramifications of consuming soy is controversial but we personally try to limit our intake. ANTYWAYS back to the recipe.

Now Let’s Get Cookin’:

1. Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a wax sealed mason jar. Shake vigorously. Pour 1/4th of the dressing into a separate jar and put the rest in the fridge.
2. Slice the Red onion in to moderate sized slices and put in the jar with the 1/4th of dressing and close the jar so the onions can marinate.
   1. We do this just because onions has a strong flavor and can over power the dish if you put them in raw.
3. Boil your pasta in seasoned water
4. Mix your pasta, veggies, dressing and cheese together.
   1. I like to put the final dish in the refrigerator because the pasta can be kind of warm and it tastes better cold
5. Serve. Enjoy!

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