{Easy Peasy Pasta Salad}

Light, fresh, and easy peasy. Not that it has peas in it.

Because I hate peas.

This pasta salad is quick and great for summer picnics or any summer meal!

I made it today for Memorial Day.

Because it’s quick. And it’s easy.

Did I mention that already?

You can dress this up, or dress it down.

Here’s what I used:

1 box piccolini (16 oz)

(any pasta will work, and the tri colored looks great)

1/2 green bell pepper

2 small tomatoes

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup Kraft Fat Free Italian dressing

(you could use any Italian dressing or even many of the vinaigrettes.)

Cook the pasta according to the package, adding salt and about 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder to the water.

Then rinse fully in cold water.

Add the chopped pepper, tomato, and cheese. You can also add cucumber, olives, different color peppers and more.

 

Add the dressing and stir.

Refrigerate several hours or overnight to fully develop flavors.

Toss before serving.

Sprinkle with grated parmesan or romano cheese.

Have a great memorial, but don’t forget to remember.

"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same." -Ronald Reagan

*thank you soldiers and veterans*

printable recipe

~Tina

{Holy Moses Dip}

This dip is from my friend, Lori.

I think she’s evil* because this dip is sinful.

Sinful I tell you!

*not really, she’s great ;)

Make it when you are having company over. If you don’t, you’ll probably hole up in a closet and eat it all by
yourself.

Seriously, it’s.that.good.

It’s called “Holy Moses Dip” because the first time I tasted it, I said “Holy Moses that is gooooooood!”.

I may or may not have had a mouthful of chip and dip at that point.

We need not discuss such things.

After all, I am a lady.

Ok, I just made myself laugh at that.

By the way, I have no idea what Lori calls it…? She just told me it was an amazing dip. She did not lie.

This dip and all it’s delicousness comes from just 4 ingredients.

Here’s whatcha need:

Holy Moses Dip

1 tub sour cream -16 ounces

1 package powdered ranch dressing mix (aka Hidden Valley) –4 ounces

1 package REAL bacon bits* (not the hard crunch kind) –3 ounces

1-2 cups cheddar cheese (mild or sharp, your choice, I use mild)

*the more industrious person could fry up about 6 pieces of bacon, but, I’m not that industrious.

Plus I don’t want to smell like bacon.

Y’all know you smell like it after you fry it. It’s a fact of life.

Preeeeetty simple here folks.

First plop the sour cream into a mixing bowl, like so

add the dressing

and the bacon

The cheese

oooh lookit how pretty.

Too bad we are stirring it up. Let’s just appreciate the beauty here for a second.

Enough of that, now STIR, my lovelies, stir!

Let sit a few hours or over night for the best flavor.

Then eat it, and yell out “Holy Moses that’s good!”

What? Is that just me??

Great for parties and picnics!

I suppose you could serve it with raw veggies instead of chips.

But that seems like a waste of perfectly good junk food.

I stand corrected, this is NOT junk food. I mean, look- you’ve got dairy, meat, and vegetables.

Potato chips aren’t a vegetable? I’m not sure I believe you.

I’ll consult Google next.

Did I say, “yum”?

Remember, serve to a crowd. Or you’ll be doing the walk of shame from that closet, with greasy fingers and sour cream lips!

Don’t blame me, I stamped this puppy with a warning label!

Enjoy.

Here’s the handy dandy printable recipe.

~Tina

posted at Mommy’s Kitchen Sunday Potluck for 5/29/11
posted on Fat Camp Fridays @ Mangoes & Chutney for 8/27/11 
posted at Hugs & Cook ies XOXO  10/12/11