I love making delicious recipes and sharing them with others.

Pasta salad is both delicious and economical. It can be created using one or more types of pasta. It is often served chilled as an appetizer, as a side dish, or as a main course.

A pasta salad is often thought to be a spring or summertime dish or meal, but because of its tremendous versatility, it can be served year round. This dish can be as simple as cold pasta and mayonnaise (Miracle Whip is often used), or it can include any number of ingredients like olives, cheese, vegetables, nuts, herbs and spices, meats, seafood, and/or legumes. Other dressing options include ingredients such as oils, vinegar, lemon juice, and fresh herbs.

Ingredients

• 12 oz. vermicelli or spaghetti
• 3 T. lemon juice
• 3 T. olive oil
• 1 1/2 cup celery, sliced
• 1/2 cup green onions, sliced, including greens
• 3/4 cup Spanish olives with pimientos, sliced or pieces
• 3-4 - 1 1/2 cup Miracle Whip, per taste and creaminess
• 3/4 t. seasoning salt, or to taste
• 3/4 t. paprika, or to taste
• 3/4 t. salt, or to taste

Instructions

1. Prepare pasta per package directions. I must admit, I like to break the pasta into four pieces before preparing it. It makes it easier to eat. (I am not Italian and do not do the fork swirling thing very well, and the other ingredients tend to fall off.) I break it while still in the bag by pressing part of it over the edge of the counter. I do this 3 times along the length of the pasta, breaking each strand into four pieces.
2. While pasta is cooking, combine lemon juice and olive oil.
3. Combine seasoning salt, paprika, and salt.
4. Clean and prepare green onions. Slice onions and be sure to include the greens.
5. Chop celery. To make the pieces small, I first cut the celery stalk length-wise 2-4 times, then slice across those pieces.
6. Drain pasta after cooking time has elapsed. Immediately stir in oil and lemon juice.
7. Measure out olives.
8. Add celery, sliced onions, and green olives. Mix well.
9. Add Miracle Whip, salt, and paprika mixture. Mix well.
10. Garnish with leftover olives and pimentos as desired.
11. Tastes good warm or cold. Serve and enjoy!

Comments

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on July 19, 2014:

I like drier salads as well, because like you, I like to taste the ingredients. I hope you enjoy this one.

Audrey Selig from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 08, 2014:

Hi. Cindy. I love pasta salad , and this recipe looks easy to prepare. I like my salad pretty dry,while salads you buy in stores are wet with dressing. It takes away from the taste of ingredients. Thank you for sharing, and I am pinning your tasty well written hub. Blessings. Audrey

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on April 26, 2012:

Angela - My husband and I really enjoy this one. When I make it, it never hangs around long!

Angela Kane from Las Vegas, Nevada on April 24, 2012:

I am always searching for new pasta salads for the summer and I am going to try this one. It looks very good and easy to prepare. Voted up and useful.

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on April 18, 2012:

Jackie - I am going to make it again very soon - I think tomorrow. My husband has been asking for it again! I hope you have a chance to give it a try!

Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on April 18, 2012:

Wow these look good and so easy, thank you!

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on April 13, 2012:

vegetarianceleste - I hope that when you have a chance to try this that you return to let me know how you liked it. Thanks so much!

vegetarianceleste from San Fransisco on April 12, 2012:

Your Spanish olive & pasta salad is very well presented - I'll be trying this myself soon - voted up!

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on April 06, 2012:

prasetio30 - I hope you really enjoy this recipe. Thanks so much!

prasetio30 from malang-indonesia on April 05, 2012:

I love pasta and I really enjoy your recipe. I can't wait to make it soon and share with mom. Take care and rated up!

Prasetio

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on April 04, 2012:

I agree, there are definitely some very interesting combinations in these recipes. Thanks for stopping by!

Rodney Fagan from Johannesberg South Africa, The Gold Mine City on April 02, 2012:

Thanks for these recipes, some very interesting flavour combinations and textures.

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on April 01, 2012:

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. My husband complained that I did not make enough of this this time! LOL

Suzie ONeill from Lost in La La Land on March 30, 2012:

Looks yummy! I'm going to have to take this recipe for a test drive. Thanks for sharing! :)

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on March 30, 2012:

Marcy - The olives add a very special and unique flavor as well. So glad you enjoyed this one.

amberld - If you love olives, you definitely have to try this recipe.

tammyswallow - I hope you try it and return to let us know how you liked it.

Thanks so much to all of you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

Tammy from North Carolina on March 30, 2012:

Great recipie! I love all kinds of pasta salad. This makes me hungry.. I will have to try it. Well done!

Amber White from New Glarus, WI on March 30, 2012:

This looks great! I love olives so much and have never put them together in pasta before. Voted up and Shared!

Marcy Goodfleisch from Planet Earth on March 30, 2012:

I love pasta salads! This sounds so right for summer weather, especially since it the tang of lemon is so great in warm weather.

Your hubs are always spectacular - thanks for yet another winner!

Voted up, awesome, useful and SHARED!

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on March 29, 2012:

Deborah Brooks - I hope you get a chance to try it. I am sure I will be making it soon again. My husband was complaining because it is all gone.

alocsin - I would think it could be made with any kind of pasta. I love olives as well.

Ruchira - I hope you like this pasta salad as much as we do.

Thanks so much to all of you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.

Ruchira from United States on March 29, 2012:

Cindy...this is one awesome receive. Loved reading it and will give it a shot.

5 stars :)

Aurelio Locsin from Orange County, CA on March 29, 2012:

This sounds excellent and the Spanish olives and pimentos add an exotic flair to it. I imagine it can be used with any type of pasta, not just the long, thin kinds. Voting this Up and Useful.

Cindy Murdoch (author) from Texas on March 29, 2012:

The challenge is over! Time to catch up on some things like answering comments!

Linda Bliss - So glad you asked the question. You might watch for another that I plan to write about pasta salad containing meat. Thanks for asking a great question.

lord de cross - After my husband got finished with it there was not much left for tasting. He was complaining that I had not made enough. LOL

uzma shaheen - Pasta salads are indeed great to eat year round. Glad you appreciated the pics.

Rolly - After this 30/30 I think I am going on an extended vacation. Not sure when I'll be back... otherwise I would love to have the whole? community over. (Don't call me, I'll call you!) LOL On a more serious note, thanks so much for all the support you have given me on this journey. I really appreciate it. You have been wonderful.

Deborah Brooks Langford from Brownsville,TX on March 28, 2012:

Oh My I love this hub. I love love love pasta. and Spanish olives.,great hub ..

voted up and useful and interesting

Debbie

Rolly A Chabot from Alberta Canada on March 28, 2012:

Well done I hope you do mind... I have invited the entire hub community over to test each one of these... See everyone at Cindy's ....looks awesome like always...

Hugs from Canada

Uzma Shaheen Bhatti from Lahore,Pakistan on March 28, 2012:

hmmm nice hub. you are right that"A pasta salad is often thought to be a spring or summertime dish or meal, but because of its tremendous versatility it can be served year round".

pics made the recipie more easy to understand and interesting.

Joseph De Cross from New York on March 28, 2012:

This is a great recipe with lots of calories. We love Olives and the presentation was greatly laid out. Wish Team HP could set up an scripting button for tasting. If you are able to upload a pic...why not the taste and flavoring? Voila!~

LORD

Linda Liebrand from San Francisco on March 28, 2012:

Thanks for answering my question about pasta salads! Now I have a whole bunch of them to choose from for my lunch box - great! Voted up and shared.