I love summer salads. I get tired of the same old macaroni and potato salads. I think they sometimes tend to have too much mayo and in the heat of the summer you have to be careful because it can go bad very quickly. To combat that I have come up with a pasta salad with an oil based dressing.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

1 12 pkg rainbow pasta spirals
1 3.8 can black or kalamada olives sliced (pitted)
1 6.5 oz jar marinated artichoke, chopped
2 zucchini sliced
1 small chopped red onion
1 7oz jar diced sun dried tomatoes packed in oil
1 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 14 oz bottle Bernstines cheese and garlic dressing

Cook pasta according to package directions. Once pasta is cooked, drain in a colander and rinse with cool water.

In a large bowl combine pasta, olives, artichokes, zucchini, red onion and tomatoes and mix well.    Once it is mixed, add about 1/2 of the dressing and cheese. The pasta will soak up quite a bit of dressing so you may want to add a little more before serving.

This is a great summer salad but it is even better the next day!