Incredibly simple and easy pasta salad

Here is my super easy go to pasta salad for a quick dish for the summer and/or potlucks and picnics

Pasta Salad (large batch)

2 boxes garden rotini (the multi color ones)
1-2 green bell peppers
1-2 yellow bell peppers
1-2 red bell peppers
1-2 orange bell peppers
1 cucumber
green onions
cherry tomatoes
1-2 bottle zesty italian dressing


Boil water then cook pasta. Be VERY careful to NOT over cook it, you want it just al dente for a few reasons: 1) it will continue to cook as you toss it with the other ingredients while it is still warm, 2) over done pasta falls apart and doesn't retain it's nice big pieces

While pasta is cooking, dice up all your vegetables.

Bell peppers: chop both ends off, make a slice down the side, then slide your knife along the inside to de-seed and de-rib the pepper, wash off then cut into strips, dice strips into small pieces

Cucumber: score skin with fork while washing under cold water (or peel_, cut in half, then cut each half in half again (for quarters), holding the 2 halves of each half together, slice to desired size

Green onions: wash, then using kitchen sheers cut green part into ribbons. if you like more onion flavor, include the white bulb (I usually omit this if going to a party)

Tomatoes: cherry or grape tomatoes work the best, halve small ones, quarter larger ones

Drain pasta well but do not run water over it

In a very large bowl, add pasta and 1 bottle of dressing and toss well with a spoon

Add vegetables and toss further.
Refrigerate until event (I prefer overnight)

Taste before serving, and if needed add more dressing to taste.

voila. super simple and easy pasta salad.

don't be afraid to mix up the ingredients either!