#3762 - Bacon Pasta Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

12oz. three color rotini pasta
10 slices bacon (fried and crumbled)
1 cup mayo
3 TBSP Hidden Valley Ranch dressing powder (dry)
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
fresh ground black pepper (to your taste; optional)
1 large tomato (chopped)
1 - 4.25oz. can sliced black olives (well drained)
1 cup shredded cheese (your choice of type)

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to bag directions, then drain but do NOT rinse. Let the pasta cool to room temperature. In a bowl add mayo, ranch dressing powder, garlic powder and pepper--stir well. In a large bowl add drained pasta, crumbled bacon, drained black olives and shredded cheese--toss to mix. Add the mayo mixture to the pasta mixture--toss to mix. Add more mayo as necessary and toss again until salad has the consistency you like. Cover and refrigerate until cold. When ready to serve, drain any liquid off of the chopped tomatoes and add them to the pasta salad--stir to mix.