Recipe: Perfect Mike's Chilled Artichoke Feta Pasta Salad

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Mike's Chilled Artichoke Feta Pasta Salad.

Mike's Chilled Artichoke Feta Pasta Salad You can have Mike's Chilled Artichoke Feta Pasta Salad using 13 ingredients and 13 steps. Here is how you achieve that.

Ingredients of Mike's Chilled Artichoke Feta Pasta Salad

  1. It's 1 (12 oz) of Box Multi Colored Rotini Pasta [+ water - salt & splash olive oil].
  2. It's 2 Boxes of ATHENOS Feta Cheese [× extra for garnish].
  3. You need 1/3 Cup of Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese [+ extra for garnish].
  4. Prepare 1 (33 oz) of Jar Artichoke Hearts [in water - fully drained - halved].
  5. You need 1 Can of Large Black Olives [fully drained - halved].
  6. You need 1 of Extra Large Cucumber [diced].
  7. It's 1/2 of Green Bell Pepper [diced - use multi color bells if you have them].
  8. It's 1/2 Cup of Fresh Green Onions [chopped + reserves for garnish].
  9. You need 2 tbsp of Sun Dried Tomatoes [in oil - chopped].
  10. Prepare 1 tbsp of Dried Italian Seasonings.
  11. Prepare 1 of Small Purple Onion [diced].
  12. You need 1/3 Cup of Fresh Parsley Leaves.
  13. It's 1 (24 oz) of Bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing [well shaken].

Mike's Chilled Artichoke Feta Pasta Salad step by step

  1. Fully drain your artichoke hearts and black olives. Slice all in half..
  2. Chop your chilled vegetables. Mix well..
  3. Gently fold in your cheeses..
  4. Chop your Sun Dried Tomatoes..
  5. Gently toss mixture well. Refrigerate this mixture until your pasta has cooled..
  6. Bring a 6-8 quart pot to a steady boil. Add a few dashes salt and a dash of olive oil. Add your muli-colored Rotini Pasta. Stir well and regularly. Boil as per manufacturers directions. Usually about 10 minutes..
  7. Drain pasta and return to pot..
  8. Add half of your Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing, a few pinches fresh ground black pepper. Stir well. Allow pasta to cool naturally. Stir occasionally as it cools..
  9. Authors Note: For the biggest flavor and lowest price - I've found that Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing is one of the best bets out there. But, feel free to use your favorite brand..
  10. Once pasta has cooled, pile on your vegetable/cheese mixture and pour your remaining 1/2 bottle dressing over it..
  11. Gently fold everything together with bottom to upward strokes. Refrigerate salad for several hours. Know that with the longer the marry time - the better tasting she'll be. Mix her up occasionally and add additional dressing as the days go by..
  12. This chilly springtime salad also makes for great workplace, on the go, or, school lunches..
  13. Authors Tip: Before serving - give your salad a quick stir each time from the bottom up. This step is meant to pull any settled dressing up from the bottom for fullest flavor. Add more Italian seasoning as needed to refresh your salad in the coming days. Garnish with Feta Cheese, Parmesan Cheese and green cjives. Enjoy!.