Potluck offering

Monday was our annual Labor Day church picnic. Despite the heat, the breeze in the shade was nice and the kids had a grand time. I wanted to bring a dish without any ingredients that could spoil in the warm temperature, so I came up with this pasta salad. It looks a little goopy in the picture, but it wasn't... It was fresh, tasty and totally devoured by the time I finally got in line to have some. Here is the recipe in case anyone wants to give it a try.

Sun Dried Tomato and Kalamata Olive Pasta Salad

1 lb pasta, I used penne, but farfalle or rotini would be good too

1 large clove of garlic

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup olive oil, or a combination of olive and canola oil

large handful of basil 

1 heaping teaspoon dijon mustard

1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes (I had some homemade ones in my freezer from last year that needed to be used, but I guess I would recommend oil packed if you don't have homemade)

1/2 cup kalamata olives (pitted)

fresh ground pepper and salt to taste. I didn't use salt, but I did salt the pasta water pretty well.

Fresh vegetables, whatever you like, but this is what I recommend, it worked well for me...

1 fresh red pepper, julienned

1 carrot, sliced in thin rounds

1 yellow zucchini (make sure it's not bitter first!)

Cherry tomatoes (I used a LOT of these since my garden is full of them, maybe 2 cups!)

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions, make sure it's done completely, nobody like a pasta salad with crunchy pasta. Be sure to salt your pasta water.

With your food processor blade spinning, drop the garlic in the feed tube and let it chop, add the vinegar with the motor running, and pour the oil and mustard in next.  Mix those ingredients up well, then add the handful of basil, olives and tomatoes. pulse about 10 times, until the ingredients are chopped, but not in a paste.

Toss the sauce with the chopped vegetables and pasta. YUM!!

I think I would add about a cup of grated parmesan cheese next time I make this, and maybe a few red pepper flakes to give it a bit of kick.