Linda's Colorful Rotini Salad 🌈🥗

This delightful rotini salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish that's perfect for picnics, potlucks, or any warm-weather gathering. Packed with colorful veggies and topped with a sweet and tangy dressing, it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! Plus, making it a day in advance allows the flavors to fuse beautifully, ensuring each bite is bursting with taste. 🌞

Ingredients

For the salad base

1 (16 oz) box rainbow rotini (cooked and drained)
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup diced green peppers
1 cup diced celery
1 cup shredded aged cheddar cheese
½ cup diced onion

For the dressing

1 cup sugar
¾ cup vinegar (white or apple cider)
½ cup salad oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rotini, shredded carrots, diced green peppers, diced celery, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced onion.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar and vinegar until the sugar is dissolved. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Gradually blend in the salad oil until the dressing is well combined.

🥄 For an extra flavor kick, try adding a teaspoon of dried herbs like oregano or basil to the dressing before mixing. Fresh herbs work wonders too!

Pour the dressing (without the oil) over the salad ingredients and mix well.
Stir in the salad oil and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Let the salad stand for a few hours at room temperature, stirring occasionally, before refrigerating. For best results, prepare this salad a day ahead!

🧊 Keeping the salad at room temperature before serving enhances the flavor, but remember to keep it chilled if left out for too long, especially during summer picnics.

Variations

Protein Boost: Add grilled chicken or chickpeas for a heartier salad that makes a great main dish! 🍗🥙
Vegan-Friendly: Substitute cheddar cheese with a plant-based cheese alternative or skip it altogether for a lighter version.
Zesty Twist: Incorporate diced tomatoes or olives for an extra layer of flavor.
Low-Sugar Option: Replace sugar with a sugar substitute or honey for a lighter dressing.

Enjoy this colorful, tasty, and versatile rotini salad that will brighten any table or gathering! 🌟🥳

All Revisions

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Here's the text from the image: **ROTINI SALAD** 1 - 16 oz. box rainbow rotini (cooked) 1 cup shredded carrots 1 cup diced green peppers 1 cup diced celery 1 cup shredded aged cheddar cheese ½ cup diced onion **Sauce:** 1 cup sugar ¾ cup vinegar ½ cup salad oil salt and pepper Add sauce (without oil) to the other ingredients. Blend in salad oil. Let stand a few hours at room temperature, stirring occasionally, then refrigerate. Make a day ahead. (This is great for a picnic salad during hot weather.) Linda Ashe

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# Linda's Colorful Rotini Salad 🌈🥗 This delightful rotini salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish that's perfect for picnics, potlucks, or any warm-weather gathering. Packed with colorful veggies and topped with a sweet and tangy dressing, it's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! Plus, making it a day in advance allows the flavors to fuse beautifully, ensuring each bite is bursting with taste. 🌞 ## Ingredients ### For the salad base - 1 (16 oz) box rainbow rotini (cooked and drained) - 1 cup shredded carrots - 1 cup diced green peppers - 1 cup diced celery - 1 cup shredded aged cheddar cheese - ½ cup diced onion ### For the dressing - 1 cup sugar - ¾ cup vinegar (white or apple cider) - ½ cup salad oil - Salt and pepper to taste ## Instructions 1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rotini, shredded carrots, diced green peppers, diced celery, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced onion. 2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar and vinegar until the sugar is dissolved. Add salt and pepper to taste. 3. Gradually blend in the salad oil until the dressing is well combined. > 🥄 For an extra flavor kick, try adding a teaspoon of dried herbs like oregano or basil to the dressing before mixing. Fresh herbs work wonders too! 4. Pour the dressing (without the oil) over the salad ingredients and mix well. 5. Stir in the salad oil and adjust seasoning if necessary. 6. Let the salad stand for a few hours at room temperature, stirring occasionally, before refrigerating. For best results, prepare this salad a day ahead! > 🧊 Keeping the salad at room temperature before serving enhances the flavor, but remember to keep it chilled if left out for too long, especially during summer picnics. ## Variations - **Protein Boost**: Add grilled chicken or chickpeas for a heartier salad that makes a great main dish! 🍗🥙 - **Vegan-Friendly**: Substitute cheddar cheese with a plant-based cheese alternative or skip it altogether for a lighter version. - **Zesty Twist**: Incorporate diced tomatoes or olives for an extra layer of flavor. - **Low-Sugar Option**: Replace sugar with a sugar substitute or honey for a lighter dressing. Enjoy this colorful, tasty, and versatile rotini salad that will brighten any table or gathering! 🌟🥳

name

Linda's Rotini Salad

Gallagher Kitchen