Summer Pasta Salad

With the unofficial start to summer today, I had this hankering for pasta salad.  Funny thing is that the weather doesn't match my summer food mood.  At all.  The sky is full of ominous gray clouds and I can hear the thunder rolling in the distance.  Ah, well--I still made the salad and I although I will share my recipe, I won't share how many platefuls I had for lunch.

Summer Pasta Salad

6 cups pasta, uncooked (I use tri-colored because it looks pretty--it's not whole wheat and that's only because I can't seem to find tri-colored-whole-wheat-pasta)

2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup minced onions (red would be more appealing to the eye, but whatever you have--I had yellow--works)
1 can black olives, drained
3/4 cup artichoke hearts, sliced in thin strips
8 oz. mushrooms, sliced
2 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2-3/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
6 large basil leaves, chiffonade
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
Extra virgin olive oil
Red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions, rinse in cold water to stop cooking and to start cooling down pasta.  Drain pasta well and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil to prevent sticking and set aside.

Slice, mince, or chop remaining ingredients and combine with pasta.  Drizzle generously with olive oil and vinegar, to taste.  Season with salt and pepper as needed.    Serve with additional Parmesan for garnish, if desired.  Serve slightly cooled or at room temperature--which ever you prefer. As you can see, much of this is flexible--that's pretty much how it goes in the kitchen for me! 

This a great salad to have on hand for an easy lunch during the week.  It is also great for barbeques and potlucks as it doesn't have any mayonnaise in the dressing that you would need to worry about refrigerating. 

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This recipe is linked to:

Beauty and Bedlam's Tasty Tuesday
Blessed With Grace Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
Designs By Gollum Foodie Friday
Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap
Friday Potluck at EKat's Kitchen
Hearth 'n Soul Recipe Swap  
La Bella Vita's Fresh Clean and Pure Friday 
Life As Mom Ultimate Recipe Swap
Miz Helen's Country Cottage Full Plate Thursday 
This Chick Cooks Recipe Swap