How do you make your pasta salad?

Here are some healthy pasta salad ideas =) For a healthier pasta dish use whole grain, brown rice or spelt pasta noodles, organic/natural ingredients also.

~ Things you can add:

- Basil pesto sauce, salad dressings you like, caesar or ranch dressing, olive oil, etc..

- Tuna, salmon, chickpeas, mixed beans, cubed grilled tofu, tempeh bits, etc

- Cherry tomatoes or chopped tomatoes

- Cucumber

- Red onion bits

- Baby spinach, broccoli, grated carrot, steamed kale, chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, yellow and green zucchini, etc

- Grilled vegetables

- Cheese: shredded cheeses, parmesan, goat cheese, feta cheese crumbles, etc.

- Olives

I hope this helps :)

Mine is quick, easy, and simple. Cook the noodles ( i always pick colorful ones just to be more creative) at the temperature you would normally cook them at. Add any kind of vegetable that you like. i always go with chopped cucumber, red, yellow, and orange peppers, and carrots. Then I add Italian dressing to it and mix so its spread throughout the salad. Next, i usually chill it in the refrigerator for about 1 1/2 hours. If not chilled, it doesn't taste that great.

This is my take on the Italian Pasta Salad:

1 pound box of bow tie pasta cooked, rinsed and drained very well.

8 oz of mozzarella cheese diced

1 cup of red onion diced

1 cup of sweet bell pepper diced

1 cup of sliced cucumber

1 cup of black olives

2 cups of cherry or grape tomatoes (I leave them whole)

1 cup of parmesan

Sliced Pepperoni (I use the entire small package of Hormel)

1 16 oz Zesty Italian Dressing

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper

2 tablespoons of freshly chopped basil

Mix it up and chill at least 4 - 5 hours.

I just kind of wing it with things they include

mayo

mustard

onions, green, white or both

garlic powder

salt and pepper

celery

green peppers - or not

grated cheese - or not

parsley - fresh or dry

cilantro ditto

sugar

hot sauce - a few shakes

lemon juice or vinegar

hard boiled eggs

green or black olives sliced

Taste, taste, taste

Salt is a rule and don't be afraid to use it