I don’t like cold food. Never have really. I much prefer my food to be hot. With that said, I am absolutely IN LOVE with this Italian pasta salad. It’s been a good dish to have in the fridge on a day when I just don’t feel like putting anything together or may not be super hungry but just want a little something. I mean, look at this:

Did you see it? Doesn’t it look positively dreamy and delicious? The best part is that it is super simple to put together! Here’s what you need:

• 1 box tri-color rotini pasta
• mini cucumbers, sliced
• green bell peppers, diced or chopped (it all depends on how small you like your veggie chunks)
• red bell peppers, diced or chopped (see green bell pepper note above)
• red onion, diced or chopped (see green bell pepper note above)
• 1 cup, Italian salad dressing (I used Olive Garden or the Aldi brand that’s comparable. You can certainly also make your own, but you’d be on your own with that one!)

Here are your steps:

1. Boil your noodles according to package directions, making any modifications that you may typically make to get your noodles to the acceptable level of doneness for you. Drain and place drained noodles into a large bowl (preferably one that has a lid). I like to let me cool for 5 or 10 minutes, but you certainly do not have to.
2. Add your diced/chopped veggies to the pasta noodles. Stir to combine.
3. Add dressing and (once again) stir to combine.
4. Refrigerate 30 minutes to allow flavors to commingle and enjoy!

This typically lasts about 5 days in the fridge before everything starts to mush and get a little funky. It could last longer to your liking, but I don’t like to touch it once the sliming starts.

Again, I don’t like my food cold, but this has been a bowl of deliciousness on a hot or cold day! Give it a try and let me know what you think!