Why I Eat Pasta Salads All Year Round (And Maybe You Should, Too)
Okay, let’s just get this right out in the open. Nearly everybody loves pasta salads. I know that I do, and I eat them all spring and summer long at family gatherings, pot lucks, church socials and any other kind of gathering where people and food are in the same place at the same time. I imagine you are pretty much the same way. All spring and summer we graze on these salads, maybe never even having the same one twice.
Is there some mysterious reason that pasta salads disappear in the fall and winter? People everywhere are still gathering and eating and socializing, aren’t they? Does pasta have some secret seasonal expiration date? Well, don’t tell that to spaghetti, lasagna or manicotti – they might just walk out in protest and leave you with nothing but limp salad to munch upon!
Guess what? Pasta salads are just as tasty in the fall and winter (gasp)! In fact, they can be even tastier than in the spring and summer, because you can add totally different ingredients to them. Try a savory Italian one with tomatoes, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. Try a sweet one with brown sugar-laced pumpkin puree dressing, spiced with the traditional pumpkin pie spices. Try Amanda’s tantalizing Jalapeno Popper macaroni salad – you’ll get my point! You might even get hooked!
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Quick Tip: You can certainly make this salad a day in advance. In fact, letting this cold pasta salad sit in your refrigerator overnight will improve the flavor. When you are making the salad, set aside a little bit of the dressing. Then add this and stir to combine right before you are ready to serve.
Recipe and image courtesy of Amanda at The Chunky Chef
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