Ziti Pasta Salad

The Covered Dish

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This past week I must have been on overload and didn’t realize it. Because of the 3 day weekend I forgot about my weekly column, now how did I manage that?

In 16 years of writing I don’t think I’ve ever done this one! I went back home to see my parents, got rather snowed in, and forgot I wouldn’t have access to internet until I returned home Monday evening. Then my mind got overindulged in other things and I forgot to contact my papers telling them the column would be late this week. I will blame it on driving for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, at 35 mph in Northeast Missouri Friday night.

On this note I desire to share a really simple recipe this week. Not only does it taste good it promotes the great state of Missouri. I use a bottled salad dressing on this pasta salad called, Hendrickson’s. This product is made right here in the show-me state. It’s a rather unique vinaigrette that goes a long way as a dressing.

I adore homemade salad dressings, but I’m also realistic and know there’s not always time for it in the scheme of ‘real’ life. This weekend, for example, I made marinated cucumbers using an Italian dressing. Didn’t take much dressing to zip up sliced cukes, a few slivers of peppers and a sprinkling of green onion.

Cold pasta salads are great in the lunchbox, with a little thought at the grocery store you could even create a couple different ones each week. This would help with the lunchtime work woes. I like to do a fruity meat and cheese cold pasta salad with a lite cream dressing. And then a more traditional one like I’m sharing today.

I wish I could tell you about a great place I dined, while I was out of town this weekend, but no go. I cooked for my parents this weekend, and going to and fro we had to eat in the car. The weather and time frame were not in our favor, obviously! The great thing about arriving home was our son, Phillip, was still at home and he unloaded the car for us. And, I got all the laundry done before going to bed! I enjoy going back to Lewistown to visit. Though the weather was bad I still ran into a few locals. Special Thanks to Fleers Tire in Lewistown for the quick check Monday morning! The Fleers are a stead-fast family business.

Time to dig out and create another great week. Simply yours, The Covered Dish.

Quick Ziti Pasta Salad

1 (14 ounce) pkg. dry ziti pasta (penne is a good substitute)
Kielbasa Sausage
Yellow/orange peppers
Black Olives
Red Grape Tomatoes
Mozzarella squares
Tender, young Zucchini strips
Red Onion, Cut into long thin slivers

Hendrickson’s Original Italian Dressing
(This is a Missouri based Salad Dressing Company.)

When I make my own pasta salad I put in what my family likes. Thus, the reason why I’ve only given the ingredients above. You can add things that you enjoy like broccoli, carrots or cauliflower. I attempted to go with in an Italian route with this setting. You will note that I haven’t used a scratch dressing! My philosophy is summer is here and who wants to spend all that time in the kitchen when you could be out fishing, boating and swimming. I am pretty confident that you will not need the entire bottle of dressing. Do keep the extra on hand because pasta tends to absorb a good deal of dressing.

 

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