Pasta Salad, Fabulous No Mayo!

Total Time: 18 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 8 mins

Ingredients

• 1 (16 ounce) box salad rotini pasta (any variety will do, but this is my favorite)
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans, drained & rinsed
• 0.5 (2 1/4 ounce) can sliced black olives
• 1 (16 ounce) bottle italian dressing, any brand
• crouton, favorite variety
• bacon bits
• parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 cook pasta to desired tenderness.
• 2 when cooled, add diced tomatoes, olive slices and beans.
• 3 add italian dressing, measure by eye, pasta should be coated, but not swimming!
• 4 i usually use packets of powdered dressing mix, as do not keep bottles of italian dressing on hand, and can make as much or as little as i want.
• 5 i've also played with different varieties of italian dressings.
• 6 you can have fun with it, tweak to your taste.
• 7 if not serving immediately, refrigerate. but mix well before serving to redistribute dressing that may settle at bottom of dish.
• 8 serve with croutons, bacon bits & parmesan cheese.
• 9 (i serve this on the side to sprinkle on top, because if any leftovers croutons& bacon bits will get soggy when refrigerated, and vegans don't eat cheese!).