#3654 - Multi Colored Pasta Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 16oz. box multi-colored rotini pasta
1 zucchini (washed and sliced, peeled before slicing if you wish)
1/4 cup sliced black olives
1/2 lb. cooked ham (cut into bite sized pieces)
6oz. pepperoni slices (quartered)
1/2 of a red bell pepper (chopped)
1 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 tsp. oregano
salt and pepper (to your taste)
1 cup Italian salad dressing (more if necessary)
fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 small container cherry tomatoes (quartered)

Cook and drain pasta in salted water but DO NOT RINSE. In a large bowl add sliced zucchini, sliced black olives, ham pieces, pepperoni pieces, chopped red bell peppers, chopped celery, sliced green onions, oregano, salad dressing and drained pasta--toss well. Taste--adjust seasonings and add salt/pepper as necessary. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next day, add cherry tomato pieces and shredded mozzarella cheese--stir well. Sprinkle fresh grated Parmesan cheese over the top before serving. If salad is too dry, add a little more Italian salad dressing.

#3546 - Italian Salami Casserole

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 cups uncooked penne pasta OR ziti pasta
1 onion (chopped)
1 garlic clove (minced)
3 TBSP olive oil
1 - 14oz. can Italian style diced tomatoes
2 TBSP Hunt's tomato paste
salt and pepper (to your taste)
1 green bell pepper (chopped)
1/3 to 1/2lb. deli salami (cubed)
1 - 4oz. can sliced black olives (drained)
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cook/drain penne pasta according to box directions but do NOT drain. In a skillet over medium heat add olive oil, chopped onions and minced garlic--cook/stir until tender. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste, green bell peppers, cubed salami, drained olives, salt and pepper--cook/stir until hot. Remove from heat--add drained pasta--stir to mix. Spread 1/2 of the pasta mixture into a greased 2qt. casserole dish. Sprinkle 1/2 of the Swiss cheese and 1/2 of the cheddar cheese over the top. Spread remaining pasta mixture over the cheese. Spread remaining Swiss cheese and cheddar cheese over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until bubbling hot. Let it rest a few minutes before serving.

#3445 - Tortellini Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 9oz. package cheese tortellini
10oz. fresh baby spinach
1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese (more if you wish)
2 cups cherry tomatoes
1 small can sliced black olives (drained)
1 - 8oz. bottle robust Italian dressing
1 bag Italian style croutons
fresh ground black pepper (optional)

Prepare cheese tortellini according to package directions--drain but DO NOT rinse. Wash the baby spinach with cold water, then drain the spinach. Slice each cherry tomato in half. In a large bowl add drained cheese tortellini, drained baby spinach, drained olives, sliced cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and HALF of the Italian dressing--toss to coat. Add more dressing to suit your taste, then toss again. Top with Italian style croutons and fresh ground black pepper.

#3262 - Cream Cheese Bean Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

2 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
2 - 16oz. containers spicy black bean dip
2 - 8oz. shredded Mexican three cheese blend shredded cheese
green onions (sliced)
1 or 2 containers cherry OR grape tomatoes
sliced black olives (drained)
Tostitos scoop chips

In a bowl add cream cheese--mix with a spoon until spreadable. In a 9 x 13 glass baking dish make repeating layers of cream cheese, then bean dip, then shredded cheese. Once all ingredients have been used, sprinkle sliced green onions all over the top. Spread sliced black olives over the top. When ready to serve, cut each tomato into four pieces and spread the tomatoes all over the top. Serve with scoop chips.

#1675 - Feta Cheese Pasta Salad

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 1/2 cups uncooked spiral shaped pasta
1 cup fresh broccoli pieces
2/3 cup Italian salad dressing
1 cucumber (washed, peeled and chopped into bite sized pieces)
1/2 cup chopped red bell peppers
12 slices (or more) of pepperoni (cut into bite sized pieces)
4 slices (or more) hard salami (cut into bite sized pieces)
4 TBSP (or more) crumbled feta cheese
4 TBSP chopped black olives
2 tsp. Hidden Valley dry ranch salad dressing powder
1/2 tsp. celery seed (optional)

Cook pasta according to box directions--drain but do not rinse. In a large bowl add Italian dressing and dry ranch dressing mix--stir. Add cucumbers, broccoli pieces, red bell peppers, pepperoni pieces, hard salami pieces, broccoli pieces, feta cheese, chopped olives, and celery seed--stir. Add drained pasta--toss to coat. Refrigerate until cold.

#843 - Taco Dip

(Shirley McNevich)

1 - 15.4oz. can refried beans
1 avocado (optional)
1 - 6oz. or 8oz. bag shredded cheddar cheese
1 packet taco seasoning
1 cup sour cream
1 cup chopped onions
1-2 cups shredded lettuce
1 cup diced tomatoes
1/4 cup taco sauce
sliced black olives
1 bag tortilla chips

Spread the refried beans on a pie plate. Mash the avocado and spread on top of refried beans (optional). In a bowl add sour cream and taco seasoning--stir. Spread the sour cream mixture as the next layer on top of the avocado. Spread the chopped onions on as the next layer, then the lettuce. In a bowl add the diced tomatoes and taco sauce--stir. Add tomatoes as the next layer. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese as the next layer. Spread as many sliced black olives on top as you like. Serve with the tortilla chips.

#691 - Pepperoni Pizza Dip

(by Shirley McNevich)

1 - 8oz. Philadelphia cream cheese
1/2 cup Breakstone's sour cream
1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 cup of your favorite pizza sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese + extra for topping
1/2 cup pepperoni slices (cut into small pieces--more or less if you like)
1/4 cup chopped black olives (more or less if you like)

In a bowl add mozzarella cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic salt and sour cream--stir until mixed. Spread the cheese mixture in a pie plate. Spoon the pizza sauce evenly on top of the cheese mixture. Place a layer of olives, then chopped pepperoni slices--continue until all of the olives and chopped pepperoni slices have been used. Sprinkle the top with the mozzarella cheese. Bake 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite dipping crackers.