Spinach Pasta Salad

INGREDIENTS

• • 1 box pasta (16 ounces) cooked according to package, rinsed with cold water (use your favorite pasta - penne, bow tie, twist)

  • 3 cups fresh baby spinach

  • 8 ounces feta, crumbled

  • 1 large cucumber, cut bite size

  • 1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes (sliced in halves or quarters)

  • small red onion, chopped

Balsamic Dressing

Ingredients

• • 1/2 cup canola oil (or vegetable)

  • 1/3 cup suga

  • 3 Tablespoons good balsamic vinegar

  • 1/8 teaspoon dry mustard (or a little squeeze of yellow mustard)

  • few twists of fresh cracked pepper OR use 1/8 teaspoon of regular ground pepper

Whisk all the ingredients together, until sugar and oil are blended. Keep whisking....it will blend.

Directions 

Make pasta according to package, rinse in colander with cold water, drain. Top with spinach, feta, veggies, then toss. If you plan to serve the entire salad at once, top with desired amount of dressing. If you plan to have the salad over a few days, top with dressing individually.

Tips

• • This salad is also great with Greek or Italian dressing if you want to skip the sweet and just do a savory salad.

  • Easy to adapt by adding your favorite things - olives, red/green/yellow peppers, green onion and more.

  • Adjust the amount of spinach, feta and veggies to your preference.

  • Sub feta with blue cheese or gorgonzola.

  • Wonderful topped with grilled chicken.