Tasty Tuesday: Italian Pasta Salad

I know many of you have been experiencing the same heat wave that we’re having here in Maine.  Admittedly, I’m sure we are better off than those a few states south, but the heat and humidity get to us all the same!  So, when it’s 7 p.m. and the temperature inside and out is still in the 80′s, you’d be hard pressed to find me in front of the stove or the grill.

When it gets hot, I often turn to making a cold pasta salad.  Yes, it involves boiling water, but I make a batch that is big enough to last for a few meals throughout a heat wave.  It’s a little investment of heat for a few days of not cooking and I think it’s worth it.

Surely there are all kinds and variations of pasta salad, and we all know it’s not hard to make.  This time I ended up making an Italian version of my salad since I had ingredients on hand that were intended for a homemade pizza.  While my pasta was boiling, I cut up my red and green peppers, some provolone cheese and turkey pepperoni.  I normally like to throw in kalamata olives and cherry tomatoes, but I was too lazy for a trip to the grocery store.

I cooled the pasta with cold water and strained it well.  Then I combined all of the ingredients and tossed in some Italian dressing.

Served up with a glass of ice water and some cold blueberries, this made the perfect hot-summer-night meal!

What’s your favorite meal to make when it’s too hot out to cook?  Do you have a pasta salad variation that you love?  Share it all and, please, send a cool breeze our way!