Tasty and Easy Recipes

Ingredients:
1 cauliflower,small in small floweretes
3 carrots, large, thinly sliced
1 green pepper, diced
1 cup black olives
2 1/2 cup pasta, rotini
1 1/4 cup oil, vegetable or corn
3/4 cup vinegar, cider
2 garlic cloves, peeled & min
1 tbsp sugar
1 salt & pepper

Method:
In large bowl, toss together cauliflower, carrots, green pepper and olives. Cook rotini in large pot of boiling salted water till tender but firm about 8 to 10 minutes, drain and rinse in cold water.
Dressing: Combine oil, vinegar, garlic and sugar, adding salt and pepper to taste; mix well. Pour all but 1/3 cup dressing over salad,tossing to mix, reserve remaining dressing.
Cover and refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, taste and readjust seasonings and add remaining dressing if necessary.

Ingredients:
1 lb penne, rotini, etc. uncooked
12 oz roasted peppers, strips
12 oz marinated artichoke hearts
1 cup diced muenster, brick, or provolene, cheese, etc
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
2/3 cup lowfat caesar or italian salad dres, sing
1 freshly ground pepper
1 sliced pepperoncine peppers

Method:
Prepare pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, combine pepper strips, artichoke hearts, cheese, mushrooms,onion and basil in a large bowl.
When pasta is done, drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well and add pasta and dressing to bowl; toss well. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Ingredients:
1 6 fresh baby artichokes
1/4 c lemon juice
1/2 lb penne pasta
1/2 c tomato juice
2 TB olive oil
: Juice of one lemon
2 cloves garlic — minced
3 TB fresh parsley
3 TB fresh basil — or 1 tsp.
: dried
1/2 ts salt
1/4 ts black pepper
1/2 c fresh tomato — chopped
1/2 c olives — Kalamata
2 TB capers
1/2 c feta cheese — optional

Method:
1. Cut stems off artichokes. Peel off tough outer leaves to reveal yellow-green hearts. Cut artichokes into quarters. Combine 1/4 cup lemon juice with 2 cups water in a medium bowl. Add artichokes to
lemon water and toss to prevent discoloration. Drain. Steam artichokes until tender, about 20 minutes. chill. 2. In a large pot, bring 2 quarts water to a rapid boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt and penne.
Cook penne until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. 3. To make salad dressing: combine tomato juice, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, basil, salt and pepper in a food
processor or blender and puree for 30 seconds. 4. Toss together artichokes, penne, capers, olives and feta cheese in a large bowl salad bowl. Pour dressing over and toss well.