so pretty...and perfect for a warm, humid evening.
1 12 ounce package of Pasta Rotini, tri colored, cooked and drained
3 Roma tomatoes, diced
1 can black olives sliced
1/4 cups red onion finely diced
3/4 cups Parmesan cheese
6 fresh basil leaves, cut into strips
4 tablespoons basil pesto
2/3 cup creamy Caesar (But I often use LaRosa's Creamy Garlic Ranch that we get at our Kroger)
2 teaspoons saute spice (equal parts black pepper, salt (I use sea salt) and garlic powder)
1/2 to one cup toasted pine nuts
Cook pasta and coat with the dressing while it is still warm. Add the rest of the ingredients (minus the pine nuts) and toss. Top with toasted pine nuts. The pine nuts give it that wonderful crunch!
You can make the basil pesto in your food processor. Pulse 2 cups fresh basil leaves until coarsely chopped, add 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil until the mixture is smooth. Season with salt and pepper and add some freshly grated Pecorino cheese. We also take halved cherry tomatoes and skewer them with balls of mozzarella (I have also had it with goat cheese) and dip the in the pesto. Yummy!
Goes well with any grilled meat too. We are grilling chicken tonight...I better get busy!
Love and Hugs,
Susie Q
15 comments:
That sounds like the PERFECT salad for a summer evening! I have tons of basil growing so this is a great way to use some it it.
Hugs,
Penny
Looks positively delightful!
Brenda
Looks delicious!! A must to try. Thanks for sharing it. Connie
I just ate dinner at On the Border and I'm stuffed so full I can't move. And then I see this.
I'd better get myself to a Weight Watchers meeting SOON before I have a real problem on my hands (or, more aptly...on my BUTT!). lol
Kari
That looks so delicious! I am definitely going to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing. V.
I'm sitting here eating my pancake and jelly and thinking how I want this...supper is solved!
hugs
Sandi
This is definitly a gonna try dish. Hubby will just have to like it or fend for himself (he's not much of a salad person). This looks wonderful and just perfect for a dieter. And yes I may call on you to help me with this dieting.
Well, you have me drooling here! I've never used fresh basil and this looks the perfect time to experiment. Hope you're having a lovely week! ((Hugs))
Perfect for a summer evening. I just made a pasta salad sorta like that one last night. Very refreshing. Yours looks better, though. :)
Mmmmmmm..thanks Sue! This looks divine:>)
Hi -- this looks beautiful, and from the ingredients list, I'm sure it tastes just as good. Last summer I grew cherry tomatoes; wish I'd put some in this year, I miss the little fellas.
I don't have much basil -- never seem to have luck growing it. But I've got TONS of mint. Pesto with mint? OY! I think not.
Yes, my girls loved London; second trip for both. I wish I could have gone with them, but it was a "sisters" trip to celebrate Anne's college graduation, probably the last time they'll have a chance to do this for a long, long time.
Glad to see you! I remember Krogers from when Howard and I lived in Pittsburgh! No Krogers in NJ, sadly.
Cass
Hi Sue!
I got to meet Sue @ Sullivan & Murphy yesterday and we had so much fun! I would love to come over to the Dayton area and meet you!! Oh we'd have such a good time.
I've really enjoyed looking at your blog Sue - great recipe on this post. Have a good weekend!
Hugs Sherry
Hi You!!
I can't believe we have been running in the same circles and have not met!! Thanks for stopping by though because it gave me a change to come by RRC!! I love this recipe, and a twist on pasta salad is good by me. That reminds me~I need a little food proccesor for the lake. And a bundt pan for a cake recipe...oh the list goes on. I threw everything away when we remodeled...
I'll be back. I think we have a lot in common~the worrying about~ shhhh...the age thing and THE BATHING SUIT DILEMNA!!
Have a perfect weekend!! :-)
xoxo
Jane
I love pine nuts on salad, and often forget to use them in that way. Hope summer is going great for you and yours. Can't believe it is almost Aug. 1. School will start before we know it. Then, I will have to be satisfied with having the grandkids for an occasional hour after school. Take care, Sally
Can I have some of that? I want some. Like right now. Don't make me go to the grocery store. Please. My kind of food!
Post a Comment