Pleased as Pasta

Everyone has a dish that they bring to potlucks. It could be macaroni salad, fruit salad, killer dip and chips, bean salad or dessert. Bottom line most everyone has one, except for years I did not. I would actually dread having to bring something. They pressure was on to make a potato salad that didn't taste like butt or cheat and buy the version from the deli counter and put it in my own dish. Yeah I did it, so what? Then a couple of years ago I realized that I had been looking at this wrong. While I was trying to make a good potato salad I should just be making what I want even more. Pasta salad. I can make an entire batch of it and eat it all myself in a weekend. Of course that is having it for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but I love it enough to do that. So my tried and true pasta salad is now my official go to potluck dish that I can whip up in 30 minutes, chill and take anywhere with rave reviews. Since tomorrow is a BBQ type holiday I thought I would share it just in case you need to whip up something quick and easy before then. All I do is always keep some penne pasta on hand and then put whatever I happen to find in my cupboard and fridge. Really it's that simple.

This is what I had on hand. I had to chop it, but taste tested the whole
way so totally worth it.

Then I cooked up some pasta.

Yup Pasta. Cooked, drained and cooled.

Mix it all together, toss in some salad dressing (I prefer italian style vinaigrettes, but you can experiment with this for sure) and refrigerate for at least and hour and serve. I usually like to leave it longer to really get the flavors to mingle appropriately, but totally your call. And your done. See you didn't even break a sweat.

Happy 4th of July Everyone!!