Southwest Pasta Salad

Serves 12 side dishes
By Marilyn Harris

The flavors of Southwest are a mixture of flavors from cool and creamy, hot and spicy, and a dash of sour tartness. A must have at any picnic.

Ingredients:

16 ounces Dreamfields Penne Rigate or Elbows (one box) 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved 1 red bell pepper, cut into small strips 2 to 3 jalapeno peppers, minced 1 large sweet salad onion, halved and thinly sliced 1 to 2 ripe avocados, diced 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup tomato salsa 1 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon salt

1. Cook the pasta according to directions. Drain and quickly rinse with cool water. Set aside to drain thoroughly.
2. Place the drained pasta in a large serving bowl and add the tomatoes, bell pepper, jalapenos, onion slices, avocados and cilantro.
3. Toss lightly just to mix.
4. Make the dressing: Whisk together the mayonnaise, salsa, lime juice and salt.
5. Toss into the pasta mixture.
6. Serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.

Nutritionals per serving:
DIGESTIBLE CARBOHYDRATES: 6 g
CALORIES: 302
CALORIES FROM FAT: 227
TOTAL FAT: 22 g
PROTEIN: 19 g
CHOLESTEROL: 6 mg
SODIUM: 7 mg