Antipasto Pasta Salad

Description

Serve this pasta salad as a side dish or an entrée with pasta, vegetables, cheese and salami tossed in Italian dressing. It's simple, quick to make filling and full of flavor.

Ingredients

8 oz. rotini pasta
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
6 oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts, quartered, drained (reserve liquid*)
1/3 c. sliced red onion
1/2 c. olives green, black, Kalamata or a combo
4 oz. sliced salami, pieces cut into halves
8 oz. bocconcini cheese (small mozzarella cheese balls)
2 T. fresh basil, sliced
1 T. fresh parsley

Dressing:
1/4 c. red wine vinegar
1/3 c. olive oil or some reserved liquid from the artichoke hearts*
1/2 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. dried basil
salt and pepper, to taste

Tip: Instead of making your own dressing, you can use 1 c. bottled Italian dressing.