Pasta Salad is a perfect warm weather staple… (***update on weekend drama at the end of post 🙂 ***)
And hopefully, here for those of us experiencing a cold spring, it’ll warm up soon!
Today I’ve got another recipe to throw into your mix of warm weather favorites…it’s delicious with cherry tomatoes, black olives, chunks of mozzarella cheese…add grilled chicken and you’ve got dinner!
*** I have used Mariella Pasta –It’s the gluten free pasta that Maggiano’s restaurant uses and it’s perfection…BUT recently I’ve tried Barilla Gluten Free Pastas and they are AMAZING!! And the Barilla is easy to find at your local grocery!***
Ingredients:
16 ounces of spiral pasta…use Gluten Free if you have Celiac or Gluten Sensitivity
3 Cups Cherry tomatoes halved
1/2 lb Mozzarella Cheese – Cubed
2 packages (real) Bacon Pieces
1 Green Pepper cut into small pieces
1 (10 ounces) Can Black Olives–drained
1 (4 ounce) jar pimentos–drained
3/4 (16 ounce) bottle of Zesty Italian Dressing ***make sure it’s GlutenFree***
Instructions:
Boil salted water…add pasta and cook according to directions- If you’re using GF pasta DO NOT overcook…(you may want to undercook by a minute)
Drain pasta and rinse briefly with cold water
In large bowl combine all ingredients –except for dressing– when the ingredients are mixed, pour salad dressing over pasta and toss…
***If you like a milder taste, use only 8 ounces of dressing…we like it zesty so I used 3/4 bottle of the 16 ounce dressing***
Now for the drama…
***If you guys are following my blog page on Facebook you might already know that on Friday I had an accident with a steak knife…
I’m going to tell you about it but before I do, if you’re on FB and haven’t hit the LIKE button on All Things Heart and Home, would you consider doing it? Here’s why…Facebook is so frustrating–they keep my posts from 80% of my buds because they want me to pay for every post…BUT Facebook is the way I can connect with my friends (almost) in real time…
I share photos that inspire me…we can chat, you and I, throughout the week…it’s what I think of as micro-blogging and I love the feeling that we, you and I, are hanging out…if you do follow All Things Heart and Home however…the only way to get my posts is to COMMENT on them, LIKE them and/or SHARE them. That ensures the the powers-that-be at Facebook will show you my posts.
Ok…
if you’re squeamish …don’t read on…
Here’s how I hurt my hand…I was (stupidly) making holes in the bottom of small cans so the little ones at our Easter party could plant seeds…in a hurry, when I couldn’t find my hammer, I (STUPIDLY) used a steak knife to stab holes. You can see it coming can’t you? Picture a serial killer…stabbing over and over…I ended up stabbing my hand…ummm, all the way through.
So instead of Good Friday services, The Husband and I were hanging out at Urgent Care where the doctor stitched me up and told me I most likely severed one of my digital nerves to my thumb.
It got better from there though, we had a big party on Sunday and The Husband stepped up and helped me pull everything together (you knew he would). My hand didn’t hurt at all! No kidding, I’ve had NO pain! (Although I can’t hold things in that hand because the muscle is weak and sore if I do)
Ok…so that’s the scoop! A prayer for the nerve would be so appreciated because I would really rather not have surgery 🙂
Sending love my friends ~ xo
deezie says
April 21, 2014 at 8:24 amHI Robin
Oh no, that is not a good way to spend you day, having your hand stitched up. I will be praying for you my friend. I wanted to let you know, I didn’t see a post on facebook from you about the knife incident. I only see you every so often with a post on facebook. I dont’ think I get all of your posts.
I wanted to tell you, a few years ago I drilled through my finger and into a nerve and the doctor said I might need surgery but I waited and after about a year the feeling in my finger did come back. So there is hope you may not have to have surgery. Be careful with that hand the next few weeks
have a great day Robin
deezie
Robin says
April 21, 2014 at 10:15 amDeezie…I think lots of my buds only get a few posts here and there! (would you do me a favor and try Liking/Commenting/or Sharing my posts for a little while and see if it makes any difference in how many you get? I’d love to know if that helps!
Ohhhh and you’re finger!!! ouch! I have to tell you, your experience is a sign to me (I think) because I’m leaning toward NOT going to a surgeon since I do have a some feeling in the thumb…really, thank you for sharing–I’ve been trying to decide what to do and asking God to lead so I’m considering your comment a push in this direction…xoxo sending love friend
Tawn says
April 21, 2014 at 8:30 amRobin, I am so glad that your weekend was such a great time with your beautiful family. And I pray that you will see God’s wondrous healing in your hand. Take care. Oh, consider a Dremel! 🙂
Robin says
April 21, 2014 at 10:12 amTawn…a dremel is a wonderful idea 🙂 but then again a hammer and a nail would work too wouldn’t it? Anything except a steak knife!!! ox
Kim Banta says
April 21, 2014 at 9:31 amOh, Robin! So sorry you stabbed yourself! You know there are other ways (but not as graphic) to teach the grands how NOT to use a steak knife! You may have turned them all into vegetarians for life, just so they will never have to use one of those deadly weapons! Really, I am so sorry that you did this, and DO hope surgery is not in your future! QuirkyKim
Robin says
April 21, 2014 at 10:11 amKim, haaaa! Made me smile friend! Thank you a bunch…xo
Jeannette says
April 21, 2014 at 9:58 amOuch….Hoping that you will heal quickly without complications Robin. You are the 3rd blog I’ve read this morning that have had one type of accident or another and needed stiches!
Glad to hear you still had nice Easter.
Take care
Robin says
April 21, 2014 at 10:10 amJeanette, thank you friend! I did hear that Kim at Savvy Southern Style had to have stitches last week!!! What’s going on? 🙂 xo
Dee says
April 21, 2014 at 11:42 amOUCH! Your description made me flinch! Please seek another medical opinion (or two). Even if they say you need surgery it doesn’t mean you are obligated until you have heard all projected outcomes and thought through all scenarios. Having had a severed nerve in my face due to an accident I would guess that the reason it didn’t hurt is because the nerve is damaged and not able to send pain messages. It may not need surgery at all, but if completely severed it could need to be reattached to ever fully recover (as was my case). Don’t just wait it out. Get a second and possibly third opinion. Urgent/emergency room physicians are wonderful, but their opinions should never take the place of your primary care physician (who knows your history) or specialists. Since some feeling is returning it probably isn’t completely severed and will just take time to heal. Nerves are the slowest to ever repair themselves, but it eventually happens. Prayers for you, my friend.
Robin says
April 21, 2014 at 5:42 pmDee, this is so helpful my friend! Thank you!!! I’m sorry you had this happen in your precious face but so glad it’s ok now…you really do know about nerve damage! My hubby wants me to go to my primary care dr too…I think I will see what she says…I really do not want to have surgery! xoox
Julie Garmon says
April 21, 2014 at 1:52 pmOkay, I’m thinking this is your left hand that you hurt. Was this your good thumb? Ohhh, I hope not. And I am praying.
Recipe looks amaaaaaaaaaaaazing! Definitely will try it soon!
XOXOXO
Robin says
April 21, 2014 at 5:34 pmYES Julie!!! It was my one and only good thumb! :0
Dee says
April 21, 2014 at 11:06 pmOn a gluten-free note: Have you ever tried the Bionaturae gluten-free pasta? It is hands down my favorite one. The texture feels real and I have found that it lasts well in leftovers without turning into a rubber weapon in the next day in the refrigerator. Some that I have tried have a sliminess that I just can’t get past. I have found it at my local Food Lion and Whole Foods, but I use so much of it that I just buy it in bulk from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=bionaturae%20pasta%20gluten%20free&sprefix=bionaturae+pasta+g%2Caps&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Abionaturae%20pasta%20gluten%20free
Robin says
April 22, 2014 at 4:02 pmI will try that Dee! Thanks for the tip! ox
Melanie Robinson says
April 22, 2014 at 8:33 amRobin~ this looks delicious!! I love having a few salads on hand in the Spring & Summer!! I will be pinning this & definitely trying it! Have been wondering how your cut was doing?!! That’s so aggravating, isn’t it? I’ve done things like that and what started out innocent landed me in the urgent care getting stitches!! Take care, sweet friend!! xo
Robin says
April 22, 2014 at 4:01 pmMelanie, I have had a few people tell me they’ve done damage while doing projects! Makes me feel not so dumb! Sending love my friendox
Eileen says
April 22, 2014 at 10:07 amRobin, I felt so bad when I read what had happened to your thumb on Facebook. After having shingles a few years ago, I was left with nerve damage in part of my left side. The tingling and pain left from the damage nerves is no fun! But, I was told that the nerves will heal it just takes a very long time. I am on a regimen of Methyl B12 which is supposed to help heal damaged nerves and I have noticed much less pain lately. It just takes a lot of patience!!! I will say some prayers that yours will heal without surgery.
Per your comment about Facebook, I have “liked” your comments and even commented on them here and there but I still don’t see your posts pop up in my news feed very much. I do see everything you post on Google+ though. I wish Facebook would use a real time news feed as Google+ does instead of telling us what we want to see!!! It is very aggravating!
Glad you had a nice Easter party after your not so nice Good Friday!
Have a wonderful day, my friend! Eileen xxoo
Robin says
April 22, 2014 at 3:59 pmEileen, thank you so much for the info on your nerve issue! I so remember your bout with shingles and didn’t know that you were left with nerve damage! I’m so sorry…I pray your nerve issues resolve sooner than later my friend xo
Eileen says
April 22, 2014 at 5:13 pmThank you, dear friend! xxoo
Winnie says
April 23, 2014 at 11:59 amThis is a great pasta salad any time!!
For us without the bacon (it’s forbidden for us religiously)
Sometime we do stupid things, but that’s because we’re only human 🙂
I’m glad you’re feeling much better!!