PAT'S PASTA SALAD

Photography by Michael Long

PAT'S PASTA SALAD was created by Pat (my boss,manager,driver,wife).  We had this SALAD at one of the local Restaurant's, Here in Palm Springs. This salad is way over the top for good!  So anyway, we got some to take home and started DECONSTRUCTING that puppy.  And we have come up with a wonderful SALAD...  

So with that Here you go!!! Pat's pasta salad... 

Ingredients:

• 4          Cups    Tri-Color Rotini or other colored Dry Pasta,  uncooked


• 1          Cup      Mayonnaise,  I used Mirclewhip


• 1/4      Cup      Distilled White Vinegar


• 2/3      Cup      white sugar,  (granulated)


• 1-3/4   Tabl     Yellow mustard


• 1-1/2   teasp   Salt


• 1/2      teasp   ground black pepper


• 1         ea        yellow bell pepper


• 1         ea        orange bell pepper


• 1         ea        red bell pepper


• 1/4      cup      grated carrots


• 1         med     diced onion

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add the pasta and cook until tender, about 8 minutes.  See package for times. (Or better yet, taste test)


2. After pasta has cooked,  Drain pasta into a colander and cool with tap water to rinse. 


3. In a large bowl mix together the mayo, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt and pepper.  Add the balance of ingredients.  Bell peppers, onion, & pasta.


4. Stir to mix and make sure all the ingredients are well coated.  


5. Place bowl in frig and let the flavors marry together.  Let set at least several hours.  Or better let sent over night.  


6. Put your pasta salad in a fancy bowl.  Get a big spoon and just go for it.  

This serves about 12ish. The prep time depending on how good your are with a knife, and how much coffee you've had that day...

NOTE:  You don't really need to use those bell peppers.  Use different colors if you like,  Hey do what ever you like... It's all in the taste buds.. Just make it pretty and above all make it taste good...

SOME OF MY SOURCES

Here is a list of some of my sources.  You'll also see the web address, and comments.  Most of these you may already know about, Some you may not. I hope you find this list helpful.  Almost everyone I've ordered from. If not ordered from, at least chatted with. 

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The National Pork Board:    http://www.porkbeinspired.com/Cut_Sausage.aspx 

  A great website, Covering just about anything you might want to know about Pork.

The National Onion Association:  http://www.onions-usa.org/

  Another great site.  Kim will get back to you asap with an E-mail  Super lady over there.

Oregon Truffle Oil:  https://www.oregontruffleoil.com/

  White Truffle Oil: Never ordered from them.  However, there website is very clean.  I would feel safe ordering from them. 

The Fresh Loaf:  http://www.thefreshloaf.com/   

  Carries News & information for the Amateur Bakers & Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

The Chocolate Life: http://www.thechocolatelife.com/

  An internet group set up for chocolatetiers to meet & converse, trade ideas.  I'm a member.  Extremely helpful group to anyone that asks questions etc.  A group anyone with an interest in chocolates should join.

Dessert Professional:  http://www.dessertprofessional.com/ 

  Another internet group for the dessert maker etc.  Another wonderful group that I'm a member of.  You can ask them anything about desserts and they will work with you to get an answer.  Another group you should join if your into desserts.  Fantastic group!!!



Amazon.Com:  https://www.amazon.com

  I order tons of stuff from there. Great service, Wait for sales if you can.  I have found some great deals. 



Self Life Advice:  http://shelflifeadvice.com/

  A very nice website about self life.  They have a Tips, A list of all foods and how long they are good for.  Everyone should look at this one!!!



Still Tasty:  http://www.stilltasty.com/

  Another great website.  Pretty much the same as the one above.  It's a matter of which one is the easiest for you to get around on.



Allergies:  http://grou.ps/allergy_bloggers/home

  A group for people with allergies.  A wonder website.  Covers all food allergies.



National Pasta Association: http://www.ilovepasta.org/index.html

  A place to go to find out just about anything you want to know about pasta.



Bake Decorate Celebrate:  http://www.bakedecoratecelebrate.com/

  A pretty inspiring website for cake decorating for the amateur baker. 



I'm cooked:  http://www.imcooked.com/

  A website to post your cooking video's 



The Chocolate Addict:   http://www.thechocolateaddict.com

  A great website about chocolates, working with chocolates, video's,& materials.



Calorie Counter:  http://caloriecount.about.com/

  Looks like a very usable website.  I've used it several times and was very happy.



Pressure cooking with Lorna Sass:  http://pressurecookingwithlornasass.wordpress.com/

  If your into Pressure Cooking this is the go to lady. Book author, Chef



National Honey Board: http://www.honey.com/nhb/home/

  The National Honey Board,  What more needs to be said!!!



Dry Spice:  http://www.dryspice.com/

  Little containers that you put in your spice containers.  I use alot of these.  Tell Ken that I sent you...



ChocolateSource:  http://www.chocolatesource.com/home/index.asp

  All Chocolates,  Great people to work with.  All your major brands. 

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I hope that some of these websites are of some help to you.  These are all from my "Favorites"  I have a ton more, But these are the most active ones.  I'm sure that I didn't list some of your favorites, So bear with me on that.  Let me know if you a favorite one or ones, and I'll list those also.