Pasta Salad Recipe

I thought the party at Dr. Pope's house was a great time...even if he got us there under false pretense (no Eleanor!) I really enjoyed seeing everyone and having time to socialize (aside from the ten minute breaks in class!)

Someone asked for the recipe for the pasta salad...

PASTA SALAD

1 or 1 ½ box penne pasta
Dressing of Balsamic vinegar and light olive oil, to taste (and/or Italian dressing)
Red bell pepper, chopped
Yellow bell pepper, chopped
Green bell pepper, chopped
Cucumber, skinned and sliced
Zucchini, sliced
About 1 cup chopped carrots
Fresh basil, chopped (about ½ box if buying from the supermarket herb section)
Pine nuts, lightly toasted, to taste
1 (8 oz?) jar sun-dried tomatoes in oil (dice the tomatoes, reserving the oil)
Salt/Kosher salt and ground pepper to taste
Crumbled Feta cheese, to taste
Pitted Calamata olives, to taste

Boil pasta, adding 1 t of veggie or olive oil to the water. Cook until al dente, drain, rinse in cold water, drain. Transfer pasta to large bowl and toss lightly with the dressing. Add the vegetables, fresh basil, pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes with most/all the oil from the jar. Toss together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill or serve immediately. Add the crumbled Feta and Calamata olives just before serving.

Note: The dressing should coat the pasta and vegetables, with no remaining dressing settling at the bottom of the bowl.