Ranch & Bacon Pasta Salad and Italian Pasta Salad

Hello readers! 


(That is, if I still have any readers... )


The last couple of months have taken their toll on me.  In April, I learned that my position within my district was being eliminated, and that after seven years of service, I would be unemployed for the upcoming school year.  Needless to say, I was not only heart-broken, but completely unprepared for all the impending job-hunt would entail.  Like Time.  The amount of time I have spent rewriting my resume, filling out applications, checking online recruiting databases, and crafting well-thought responses to the written components of applications really surprised me... which is one reason I haven't written to you in so long.  


But the other reason I haven't blogged recently is more emotional than anything.  Truth told, I think I've been working through a sort of depression that I haven't experienced before.  These last few months have been very foggy for me.  My determination, ambition, and creativity were replaced with apathy and insecurity in all aspects of my life (which includes the kitchen!) 


Thankfully, I have had a few interviews in these early weeks of summer, and this simple fact has done wonders for my outlook.  And this has led me back into the kitchen-- which is good, because I have a cookout celebrating a friend's birthday coming up, and I needed to get crackin' with a side dish or two to share. 


Ranch & Bacon Pasta Salad 
(Modified from allrecipes.com) 


Ingredients: 
1 box of bow-tie pasta
1 1/2 c. light ranch dressing
1 c. mayonnaise
1 bunch of green onions, chopped (I included the scallions as well) 
1/2 pkg. grape tomatoes, halved
1 lb. bacon (cooked, drained, and crumbled) 


Directions: 


1.  Cook pasta according to directions. Drain, and set aside to cool. 


2.  In a large bowl, combine ranch, mayonnaise, green onions, and tomatoes. After cooling the pasta with running water, add to large bowl and mix thoroughly.  


3.  Before serving, add bacon crumbles to top of the dish.  Serve chilled. 


Verdict: Keeper, with revision


I am CRAZY for creamy pasta salad, so this was a hit for me.  But I think I can do better.  Next time, I might try using a ranch-dressing season packet mixed with mayo (instead of the dressing) to see how it affects the overall flavor.  Also, I might try using pre-cooked bacon crumbles, just to see if the time saved is worth it compared to the flavor of real bacon. 


Italian Pasta Salad


Ingredients: 


1 box of tri-color pasta 
1 small can of black olives, sliced
1 pkg. cheese cubes
1/2 red onion, chopped. 
1 bottle of Italian dressing (I used Kraft Zesty Italian)


Directions: 


1.  Cook pasta according to directions on box. Drain and rinse with cool water. 


2.  In a large bowl, combine red onion, olives, cheese, and pasta.  Mix well.  Stir in Italian dressing.  


3.  Refrigerate a few hours or more before serving.  


Verdict: Keeper


My friend (the birthday girl/hostess of the cookout) asked me what dressing I used because she liked it so much.  This style of pasta salad instead my favorite-- but since it's kind of a "standard" pasta salad, I'll use this in the future when feeding others who want Italian pasta salad.