With the last days of summer upon us, I have been craving all the nice, cool, and refreshing meals I can find. It is definitely not soup weather yet, although I can’t wait for that. Yesterday, I talked about my favorite smoothie recipes, which you can find here. There is nothing better than a frozen drink when the days are hot. But something I also love to make is a nice cool salad. There are so many salad options out there, and so many delicious recipes. I have been loving a nice pasta salad. What can I say, I love my carbs, and pasta is definitely on the top of my food chain. My mom used the make this summer pasta salad recipe every year, and I have completely fallen in love with it. It just tastes like summer.

I have always loved cooking. Ever since I was little, I was always more of a cook than a baker. And that has not changed since. However it gets so hot during the summer, it is pure torture to stand in front of a hot stove. So I turn to more heat-free options like this pasta salad recipe. It has all my favorite ingredients, I can’t get enough of it. Plus, do you want to know the best part? It is completely customizable! Don’t like one of the ingredients? Take it out. Want something else in the salad? Add it! There are so many options!

Also, these ingredient measurements are all estimates. Whenever I make this salad, I just throw in whatever looks good. I add more of what ingredients I am in the mood for, usually the cheese, and take out things I am not particularly fond of at the moment. Especially when my garden is in full bloom, I will throw in whatever vegetables are ripe and ready to be eaten. So, don’t worry too much about the amounts, just do what feels right.

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So the first thing you are going to want to think about? The bowl! I know it sounds silly, but when you are making a big tossed salad like this, that requires a lot of mixing, a good bowl will make all the difference. I love the Kitchen Aid Mixing bowl set that you can purchase here! I have this exact set, and it is the perfect size for making this pasta salad recipe. The smaller bowls are great for holding ingredients while you are preparing, and the larger bowl is the perfect size to toss all the ingredients together and get the dressing evenly distributed. I swear by kitchen aid and these bowls!

Okay, you have your bowl, what now? The ingredients of course! Let’s get into what exactly I put into my pasta salad recipe.

Summer Pasta Salad

Delicious mix of pasta and vegetables smothered in dressing. the perfect refreshing meal for a hot summer's day.

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Servings 4 people

Ingredients

1 box Farfalle pasta, cooked
1 cup Cherry tomatoes, halfed
1 can Kidney beans, drained
1 whole Sweet onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 whole Green bell pepper, chopped
1 whole Red bell pepper, chopped
1 bottle Italian dressing
1 container Crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

Prepare all ingredients
Throw all ingredients into a large mixing bowl
Toss salad until evenly covered in dressing
Serve and enjoy!

It is a super easy, super simple recipe that is sure to be enjoyed all summer long, and even into the colder months. Like I said, add anything you want. That is the beauty of salads, they are completely customizable. That is why I love cooking so much. With baking, if you take something out, the entire recipe is destroyed. I am not trained enough to play around with baking. However, with cooking, you can grab whatever you have in your refrigerator and pantry and see what happens. It is beautiful and exciting all at the same time.

I love to serve this salad with a yummy black bean burger sandwich. Burgers and the staple of summer in my house, and ever since going vegetarian, things have looked a little bit different. But still insanely delicious with the spicy black bean burgers I buy from Morning Star!

Let me know in the comments what your favorite salad is to eat during the summer! I would love some good recommendations!

And thank you for reading! Your support means the world to me! Have a great day!