Cold Pasta Salad

 

Ingredients
1 box noodles, al dente (I use whole wheat pasta)
1 head broccoli, florets
10-15 grape tomatoes, halved
16 oz can black olives, whole and drained
1 jar green olives, whole drained (keep extra juice to add to pasta at the end if you need salt)
3-4 green onions, diced
1 jar pimentos, drained
1-3 slices roasted red pepper, diced
1 pinch kosher salt
1 pinch black pepper
1/4 – 1/2 cup olive oil

1. In a large sauce pan add a handful of kosher salt to a dry pan
2. Now fill the pan half full with warm water, dissolving the salt.  I have found by salting the water this way vs adding salt to boiling water actually salts your pasta much nicer
3. Now place the pan over medium high heat and bring to a boil.
4. Once to a boil add your penne pasta
5. Cook the pasta about 7-9 minutes until al dente (still having a small bite to your pasta vs it being mushy)
6. Once the pasta is cooked, strain the noodles and place into a large serving bowl
7. To the serving bowl add broccoli, grape tomatoes, black olives, green olives, green onions, pimentos, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
8. Mix thoroughly and refrigerator for 1 hour before serving
9. Once chilled, taste it for seasonings and serve
10. Enjoy!!!