Mozarella Pasta Salad

Yummy Mozzarella Pasta Salad


Fresh spinach, red pepper, sun-dried tomatoes


Hopefully this is a crowd pleaser!!!


Whole foods makes this Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad in their deli..and it is so delicious, but quite pricey! Tonight Liz and Juan are having friends over for a cookout prior to going to BeerFest in Raleigh! I wanted to take something...and I thought pasta salad..then thought Whole Foods pasta salad....yum! I googled for the recipe...and I think my version turned out better!!!

RECIPE:
THE PARMESAN DRESSING
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 and 1/2 tsp.)
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
THE SALAD
1/2 pound penne pasta
2 cups packed baby spinach, washed and stemmed
2 small jarred roasted red pepper, diced
1/2 pound smoked mozzarella cheese, diced

Directions
TO PREPARE THE PARMESAN DRESSING
Combine the Parmesan cheese, parsley, mayonnaise, vinegar, garlic, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper with a hand mixer or in the bowl of food processor or in a blender until the dressing is smooth.
TO PREPARE THE SALAD
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain the pasta into a colander, run cold water over it or submerge it in ice water until chilled through, and drain well. IN a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, spinach, roasted red peppers, and smoked mozzarella.

I used my new food processor...and added fresh red pepper and jarred sun dried tomatoes! Hope the crowd enjoys!!!