Sunday, October 7, 2012

Bow Tie Pasta Salad with an Asian Twist

I just love this cooler weather.  Makes me want to cook .. wait a minute .. I always want to cook!   OK I know I have been lax in my new hobby of blogging so I will try to make up for being absent nearly a month.   I really have been cooking and creating but I couldn't find my darn camera to take any pictures.  Or when I did have my camera handy we finished eating before I realized I never took a picture.  I'm guessing it wouldn't have the same result if I showed you a food smeared empty plate would it?

The other day I made a wonderful pasta salad.  For many reasons I don't eat much pasta (doesn't settle well with my belly) but every once in a while we want a quick and easy lunch.   Normally I would just buy a Suddenly Salad and doctor it up but this time I just made it up so here goes nothing.



 Bow Tie Pasta Salad with an Asian Twist

1/2 box Bow Tie Pasta
1/2 pint Cherry or Grape tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
3 green onions sliced (white and green part)
1 cup shrimp (thawed and drained well)

Bring to a boil a pot of heavily salted water.  Bobby Flay & Ina Garten says you must put lots of salt in the water so who am I to question the culinary experts?   Add 1/2 box of bow tie pasta.  You can add more if you buy the itty bitty bow ties but I used the biggins so 1/2 box into boiling water.  Boil and stir for 12 minutes.   Drain, rinse with cold water and drain again.

In separate bowl halve your grape/cherry tomatoes add the sliced onions, capers & shrimp.
Add the cold pasta and toss gently.

Add your dressing (recipe below) and gently toss until all is coated.


Dressing   ... in small mason jar add the following:

1/2 cup olive oil
1T Sesame oil (no more .. it is strong)
1/4 cup red wine vinegar (less if you don't like a strong vinegar taste)
1T honey
salt & pepper
1T dijon mustard

Put the lid on and shake until all mixed together and add to pasta dish.

Serve with some garlic or italian bread and you have a meal.

Optional:  add crumble bacon, feta cheese, craisins.  Let your imagination go wild.

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