Pasta Salad

Everyone has a favorite

Pasta Salad recipe.  Here's my family's

favorite which is especially good

with summer veggies.

Jill's Pasta Salad

16 oz. (1 lb.) pasta of your choice

2 cucumbers

2 tomatoes

1 can large pitted black olives

Italian dressing

McCormack's Salad Seasoning

red onion to taste (optional)

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Start by preparing the pasta

according to package directions.

While pasta is cooking

peel the cucumbers.

Cut into fourths lengthwise

and remove the seeds

and chop as shown below:

Drain olives then slice in half lengthwise...

Or if you prefer...cut crosswise

into little circles.

Seed the tomatoes and chop.

Chop red onion if you're using one.

(My family doesn't like the raw onion.)

When pasta is done, rinse under cold water

until pasta is completely cooled.

Mix with the chopped veggies

in a large bowl and add Italian Dressing.

I use the Good Seasons

packets so I can mix it up fresh.

Tastes GREAT!

But you can also use bottled dressing.

Add enough to coat things well.

Sprinkle on McCormack's Salad Seasoning to taste

which you can find in most grocery stores with

the spices.

I buy this larger bottle

of a different brand from

Gorton's Foods...a national bulk food store

If you make this ahead,

you will probably need to add a bit

more dressing before serving as the

pasta absorbs some of the dressing.

Before serving, I sprinkle the salad with

freshly grated parmesan cheese.

This is always a crowd pleaser

at summer barbecues!